The three children who went missing after a day out at a theme park in Surrey have been found safe and well in London.
Khandi, 14, Amelia, nine, and Malik, seven, were reported missing shortly after 7pm after a day out in Thorpe Park. They were all known to each other, and the two youngest children are related. They had been at the park on a planned day out and had travelled to Surrey from Milton Keynes.
They were last seen walking away from the park towards Chertsey town centre at 3.17pm.
North Surrey Det Supt Trevor Struthers said: “We appreciate the concern that this incident caused, especially given the children’s ages and the fact that they were missing overnight.
“Our officers and staff have worked tirelessly to locate the three of them and we are all relieved that they have been found safe.
“We have received a huge amount of information and support from both the public and the media, and we would like to thank everyone who provided information and shared our appeal.”
Surrey police had been in contact with the owner of a flower shop in Chertsey, who said children came into her shop at 3.50pm asking for directions to the local railway station.
Sam Williams, the owner of House of Flowers, posted to Facebook a CCTV image appearing to show two girls – a teenager and a younger girl – but it has not been confirmed that these were two of the missing children.
Speaking just minutes after the news broke that the children had been found, Williams said: “Everyone is so relieved. We just couldn’t even function properly thinking we might have been one of the last to speak to them. It is a huge relief for everyone.”
She added: “I believe they are the same children, but the police have not confirmed that. I rang Surrey police this morning to tell them that she [an older girl] asked for Abbotts Way in Chertsey and then asked for the train station. All three of them were in the video and they were all together. No adults were with them.
Williams said: “I’m pretty sure it was them. We don’t get that many children coming in asking for directions and it was in the same area. I think the police had had other sightings so they were probably following those rather than coming to us, which gave me some hope this morning.”
