A BLACKPOOL couple endured the longest night of their lives this week when their eight-year-old son went missing for nearly 24 hours.

John Grimstone (pictured) of Fisher Street, was finally spotted by a holidaymaker outside McDonalds fast food restaurant on central promenade at lunchtime on Tuesday (August 31) after nationwide media publicity.

He was with a friend's family, having stayed with them overnight, telling the other boy's parents his mum and dad knew where he was.

All were blithely unaware of the 80-strong police hunt, including helicopters, mounties and dog handlers who had been scouring the resort for him since 9pm the previous night.

John's mother, Judith, speaking after a tearful reunion, said: "We just cuddled him. We were just so glad he's alive, we couldn't say anything."

Her husband, Peter, reflected every parent's worst fears when he said: "It's been a nightmare - it's been one of the longest nights we've ever known. We spent all night looking for him ourselves."

John, their only child, would probably be grounded for a couple of weeks to drive home the enormity of the worry he'd caused.

The couple, who only moved to Blackpool six months ago from County Durham, were helped in their search by John's grandmother, aunt and uncles who travelled from the North East overnight. All were shadowed by thoughts of nine-year-old Laura Kane from Sunderland, still missing after a week.

Police, who had appealed for help from hoteliers, taxi drivers and residents across the resort, were also delighted at the happy outcome.

Det Insp Bill Kendrick said: "It's been a growing-up experience for John - I don't think he realised the gravity of what he'd done. We all put in as much effort as we could in hopes of a happy ending, and we're all highly delighted he's back."

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