AN investigation has been launched into how a three-year-old boy boarded a bus and stayed on for a 24-mile trip unnoticed.

Bosses at Transdev Lancashire United have been studying CCTV footage of toddler Lee Loram climbing on to a bus in Blackburn.

Lee was with his mum Kelly Stockman in Blackburn Market when he went missing on Friday lunchtime.

After a frantic police search lasting, Lee was returned to his family safe and well four hours later, after the driver of a bus that had been to Bolton and back noticed the youngster on his way back.

He handed him to the police and Lee's relieved father, Neville Loram, who is also a bus driver for Transdev, at Blackburn bus station.

John Threlfall, operations director at Transdev's depot in Intack, said: "It is under investigation at the moment to find what exactly happened.

"We have taken statements from those involved, and there is CCTV recordings from the bus which we are analysing to see if it supports the statements.

"I have been told by the manager who has already viewed the footage that it shows Lee walk on to the bus and bounce down until he gets to the back seat, and jump up onto it, as though it is something he has done a million times before."

The company was expected to reveal further details today after their investigation.

Lee, who lives in Roe Lee with his parents, brother Mark, four, and half-sister Jennifer, nine, has been "completely unaffected" by the experience.

Ms Stockman, 32, said: "We haven't had much sleep since thinking about what might have happened and the sheer relief, but Lee is absolutely fine, as if nothing has happened.

"His brother has become very protective and follows Lee every time he goes upstairs or out of the room - though I shouldn't think that will last too long!"