THE owner of a respite centre has said she is ‘mortified’ after a child went missing while on a day trip.

The six-year-old girl was in the care of staff from the Big Blue Door centre when the incident happened last month.

The Oswaldtwistle centre was visited by education watchdog Ofsted who said it will continue to monitor the situation.

It is understood the child has severe autism and was with a number of children on a day trip to Hyndburn Leisure Centre where the Big Blue Door rents a room.

The child managed to get out when staff took their eyes off the door and was found a few minutes later at the nearby Lidl supermarket in Hyndburn Road.

Andrea Brighous, managing director of My Life - My Choice Ltd, which runs the centre, said a number of staff members had been sacked and demoted after the incident.

She said: “I was mortified. There is nothing that can justify a child going missing.

“I was not there on the day but I am responsible. I train my staff.

“It has been horrendous. Staff have been let go and demoted. We are running on a shoe-string and trying to get everything back on track.

“I took action before Ofsted got in touch.

“Nothing like this has happened before and it better not happen again.”

The service, which is based in Albert Street, was set up by Mrs Brighous in 2001.

It offers respite for hundreds of young people aged up to 25 and a break for parents who are under high levels of stress.

She said the children would have no where else to go should the service close.

A spokeswoman for Ofsted said: “I can confirm we visited this centre following the incident and will continue to monitor the situation.”

A police spokeswoman said they received a report on April 12.

She said: “We had a report that a six-year-old had gone missing in Hyndburn.

“While it was reported to us the child appears to have been located.”

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: “A short break service made us aware of an incident involving a child going missing for a short time while in its care.

“Ensuring children are safe when using care services is our priority.

“We’re monitoring the situation and working closely with the care provider, which has taken steps to tighten up procedures.”