A ten-year-old boy was today back with his family after his disappearance sparked a massive police hunt.

Qaiser Shafiq was finally reunited with his relieved parents yesterday afternoon - 23 hours after failing to return home from school.

The youngster had spent the night locked in the Girlington branch of Morrison's, and was eventually spotted roaming the store's car park.

Qaiser went missing after leaving Heaton Middle School on Monday afternoon, but there was a reported sighting of the youngster in Morrison's at 6.30pm that evening.

A massive ground and air search was launched involving dozens of detectives and uniformed officers, sniffer dogs, mounted police and the West Yorkshire Force helicopter.

The youngster said today: "I decided to go to Morrison's. Then I didn't want to come home in case I got into trouble, so I spent the night sleeping next to the trolleys inside the door. I still had some of my packed lunch left over and there were lights on in the store all night so I wasn't scared. I just thought it was an adventure."

His father, Mohammed Shafiq, 47, said: "We're all so glad to have him back home. We were trying to stay positive, but it's difficult not to think the worst when something like this happens.''

Morrison's said it had yet to receive official confirmation that the youngster had spent the entire night in the store. A spokesman said: "It would be inappropriate to make any comment until we are in possession of the full facts."

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