A head teacher at a Bradford primary school has thanked the community for helping search for a four-year-old girl reported missing earlier this week.

When the child's mother discovered she had gone while talking outside at the end of school, a massive search was mounted involving police and members of the public including staff, parents and people on the surrounding estates in Bierley and Holme Wood.

Three hours later the girl was found safe and well.

Peter Spillane, head teacher at St Columba’s Catholic Primary School in Tong Street said: "I would like to thank all parents, staff and members of the community who came together and searched for the child initially believed to have gone missing in her mother’s care on her route home.

“Fortunately it turned out the child was being cared for by other members of her family, so she was not lost but safe and well.”