A MOTHER has thanked local people who spotted her young daughter walking home alone after she stormed off from her family.

Six-year-old Tara fell out with her brother Michael, seven, at the Boatyard pub at Hoghton and walked home on her own - to Feniscowles!

Concerned residents spotted the youngster in woodland and alerted the police who sent up a helicopter to locate the youngster.

Her parents Elaine and Allan were distraught when they discovered their daughter was missing.

Elaine, who refused to give the family's surname, said: "Michael was playing with Tara and when she left, he didn't tell us until half an hour later when she hadn't returned."

The family drove the route back home desperately scouring the surrounding area for the youngster - and found her walking almost at their home in Princess Gardens.

"We couldn't believe she had found her way home. When we found her, we didn't think to report the incident," said Elaine.

"The first thing we knew that local people and police had got involved was when we read it in the paper.

"We want to thank everybody for their help and assure them that Tara is safe and sound," she added.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.