A POLICE officer who led the search for a ten-year-old missing schoolboy in Burnley has praised the community for their help.

Sean James Wheeler, of Manchester Road, Burnley, sparked the search when he failed to return from Coal Clough Primary School.

He went missing between 3.15pm on Tuesday and was not seen by his grandparents, who he lives with, until the following morning at 9am when he turned up at school.

Detective Inspector Mark Maxlow said he had been staying with a friend and was safe and well.

He said: "We got a lot of support from members of the community and from the mountain and rescue team who turned out to help us in the search. Their work is extremely valuable."