A three-year-old boy who went missing this afternoon from Blackburn market has been found safe and well.

Lee Loram was last seen at 12.40pm while shopping with his mum Kelly and brother.

A police spokesman said he had been trying to get on a children's ride in the market .

When his mother looked back he was gone, the spokesman said.

He was found at around 4.15pm by police officers.

And family and police have been left astonished that Lee had managed to board a bus without the driver realising and completed a 24-mile round trip to Bolton and back.

While Lee was on his journey, an increasingly frantic search was taking place in Blackburn town centre.

Extra officers were drafted in from across Lancashire, the force helicopter was scrambled and mounted police and dogs deployed.

Meanwhile, the Lancashire Telegraph issued Lee's description on our website and to subscribers of our mobile phone text alerts.

Police said the bus driver noticed Lee on his way back to Blackburn and as soon as he got to the town centre at 4.15pm he handed him to PC Mike Smith.

Police said they would launch an investigation "into the wider circumstances" of Lee's disappearance.

Chief Insp Terry Woods said: "We have spoken to the bus driver and it is clear that Lee had managed to sneak onto the bus when adults were boarding.

"He noticed the young boy was unaccompanied on his way back to Blackburn and at his first opportunity alerted a nearby police officer.

"In relation to the wider circumstances of his disappearance, an investigation will be carried out."

Insp Stuart Bruce thanked everyone who helped in the search.

"We would like to say thank you to the many officers who were brought into assist the search, the town centre security staff, stall holders and the numerous members of the public who came forward to help."

PC Smith, who took Lee from the bus driver, said: "He was not frightened and was very calm.

"He is obviously a streetwise young man and was obviously found safe and well."

A staff member at the Hampsons store on the market, near where Lee went missing, said: "He was in here with his mum and he was running round the shop.

"One minute he was here, the next he was gone. I think he just ran off but he has been gone for a very long time."

Another worker said: "His mum is a regular in here so we know him very well. I felt so sorry for his mum."