Two five-year-old girls went missing from their homes over the weekend, sparking a frantic search by police officers and rescue teams.

The parents of the girls, who are from the Wrekenton area of Gateshead, contacted the police at 6.15pm on Saturday when they became concerned for their daughters' safety. The Northumberland National Park and the North of Tyne search and rescue teams were also called out to assist in the search.

The girls were found at 7.15pm, just as the search and rescue teams arrived on the scene.

It later emerged the two five-year-olds were with a family friend, also from the Wrekenton area, who had failed to tell their parents where they were.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said last night: "Because of the girls' ages, the search was considered high priority.

"The search was stood down at 7.15pm on February 3 after an hour's search. Fortunately, the incident had a happy ending, and the two girls were found safe and well with a family friend.

"It was simply a communication mix-up.

"The family friend hadn't told the family they were looking after the girls."