Blackburn market staff helped search for toddler

1:40am Saturday 17th May 2008

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A BLACKBURN market worker has told of the moment the frantic mum of three-year-old Lee Loram reported him missing.

Security officer Michelle Jackson was on duty when the mother told staff in the market's main office her son had vanished.

She said: "She was devastated, absolutely devastated. It was terrible.

"I have got two grandchildren myself and I hate to think what she was going through.

"She came into the office and I came down and had a look around the market and got in touch with the police.

"He had been gone for about half an hour at that point and they told me to report him as missing."

The market then made Tanoy announcements every two to three minutes after Lee was reported to officers at around 12.40pm.

Mrs Jackson added: "I am so relieved he was found. Everybody was looking round for him and people were asking us about it."

Another market worker, Tony Bonner, said: "I went round looking, along with other attendants and staff.

"I heard off the radio that he was missing like everybody else did.

"As we walked round, people were asking us what was going on.

"I have got kids myself so we are just feeling relief."

Butcher Mike Whittaker said: "The police handled it very well. The response was excellent.

"We saw an awful lot of police. All the regular officers and PCSOs too.

"It brings out the Dunkirk spirit when something like this happens."

And stallholder Eileen Hargreaves said: "I came down to the office to find out what he was wearing and I told people who were coming to my stall."