TWO Blackburn schoolboys sparked a police hunt yesterday after they went missing from home for five hours.

The boys, aged six and eight, from the Holmbrook Close area of Fishmore, had not been seen by their parents since 11.30am.

They were reported missing at 2pm and several officers from Blackburn Police searched the Fishmore area without success.

Officers in a police helicopter eventually spotted the boys at 4.20pm at the back of Ewood Park, where they had made their way with an 11-year-old boy, also from the Fishmore area, to watch a football tournament.

Insp Steve Haworth, of Blackburn Police, appealed for parents to keep a close eye on their youngsters during hot weather.

He said: "We were very concerned about these two boys and spent a lot of time and effort trying to find them.

"We eventually mobilised the police helicopter, which found them quite quickly at the back of Ewood Park.

"We urge parents to report their children as soon as they go missing. No harm was done, but a lot of expense went into tracking these boys down.

"It would have helped if we had known earlier and the sooner we get to know about these things the better."