EXCLUSIVE

A SCHOOLBOY sparked a massive police hunt after he went missing in Accrington town centre this week.

A police helicopter was deployed in a bid to search for little Jack Wilson who had been shopping for a new school uniform with his aunt Donna Wilson and 10-year-old sister Abigail at about 2pm.

In an unprecedented move, shoppers were given a detailed description of Jack through the helicopter loud speaker which hovered low over Accrington town centre.

Six police officers also combed the area on foot in search of the eight-year-old.

Dad Andrew Bloomer was out shopping at the time when he received a call to say that Jack had vanished.

Andrew, who cares for the children, dashed home in the hope Jack would appear.

But he was nowhere to be seen and Andrew was left with no option but to contact the police.

He said: "I came straight home because I knew that Jack knows exactly where he lives but I was worried he wouldn't be able to find the right street. In the end I didn't know whether to stay at home or go out looking for him. I was really upset and worried, he has never done this before."

Police officers arrived at Andrew's home in Beech Street, Accrington, and they set off on a search of the area.

It was more than two hours before Jack was found with his cousin just around the corner from his own house.

After his ordeal, Jack, a pupil at Peel Park School, Accrington, said: "The helicopter was low but I didn't hear it. When we saw the police officers we told them that I was Jack."

Andrew added: "I can't explain how upset I was, the kids mean everything to me.

"I just saw him at the bottom of the street, it was brilliant. I didn't know whether to shout at him but I was just so happy that I gave him a cuddle.

"I want to say thanks to the police, they really helped me. I am just so happy that Jack is home safe, I'm not going to let him out of my sight now."

Inspector Bilal Mulla of Accrington Police said: "Because it was a large area that we were covering and because of Jack's age, it was prudent to deploy whatever resources we had to cover a large area in a short space of time."