Row boy found safe

About 50 officers were called out and the force helicopter alerted after Daniel Bretherton, aged 13, ran off across moorland from the Sharples School party after the argument yesterday afternoon.

Today, Sharples headmaster Bob Atkinson pledged to make a full inquiry into the major scare.

Daniel's parents and school staff faced an anxious wait for news for more than six hours through yesterday afternoon before the youngster turned up - almost 10 miles away.

The youngster phoned his parents from a phone box on a remote moorland road on the outskirts of Huddersfield at about 7pm. Police stayed with him while his parents travelled to Yorkshire to collect him.

He is believed to have walked and run the whole way across the desolate moors. Mr Atkinson said: "Obviously, everyone was extremely worried about Daniel when he disappeared and it goes without saying that his parents were very, very concerned.

"There was tremendous relief when he turned up safe and well because no one wanted to be searching for him in the dark."

Mr Atkinson added: "As far as we know, he did not get picked up by anyone and travelled the whole way himself.

"The main priority is that he is safe and well but I will be speaking to all the parties concerned today about the full circumstances." The drama began as the pupils were set to return from a trip to the National Coal Mining Museum in Overton, near Wakefield.

Daniel and another boy got into an argument and they both ran off.

The other boy was brought back to the coach, but Daniel disappeared.

The rest of the party of 40 pupils and four staff initially stayed behind, hoping for him to return. But then they set off home in time to meet their parents at the end of the school day while two teachers stayed behind to help police hunt for Daniel.

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