A MAJOR search was sparked after an eight-year-old girl went missing from her Bolton school during lunchtime.

Sophie Mann turned up at St Osmunds School in Blenheim Street, Breightmet, as usual on Tuesday morning but later disappeared.

Sophie was last seen at 12.15pm heading towards the playground with other children at lunchtime. An hour later, she failed to return to class with the rest of her friends.

The school alerted the police and a major search was launched. Officers began scouring the surrounding area and the force helicopter was used as part of the hunt.

The homes of her school friends were checked to see if she had gone there.

Shortly after 5pm, she was found 80 miles away in the Wolverhampton area of the West Midlands where she has relatives.

Police officers went to collect her and brought her back to her home in Bolton where she was reunited with her family.

Det Insp Martin Freschini, of Bolton CID, said: "We are relieved that Sophie turned up safe and well.

"Our inquiries are still ongoing into how she managed to get to Wolverhampton and whether she was accompanied by anyone."