Runaways found at record shop

The child sweethearts who ran away together after a whirlwind holiday romance have been found by police.

Natasha Phillips, 12, and 14-year-old Ashley Lamprey were found shopping in a music store in Milton Keynes shortly after it opened this morning.

Police had been called to HMV yesterday by staff who thought they had seen them on CCTV. Officers arrived this morning to examine the tapes and, as they were doing so, the young couple walked in hand-in-hand.

The children, who met in June on a Greek island, went missing two days ago. Natasha's mother Michelle Clark, who had told earlier today of how she felt she was "dying inside", said: "I am very relieved, so happy, although I'm still emotional, just glad it's over. I want to thank everyone for what they have done."

Mrs Clark, 35, said she had spoken to Natasha who had said "she loves us and that she's happy".

Ashley's mother Karen, 38, broke down in tears this morning at the news and said: "I'm just relieved, very relieved." She joked: "I now want to see the girl that has stolen my son's heart."

She added: "I need to just get down there to him now and give him a big hug and a cuddle."

As the family left to travel to Milton Keynes, Ashley's grandfather Ron Lamprey said he had spoken to his grandson on the phone and described him as "very chirpy".

He said Ashley had told him no one had taken their relationship seriously and he wanted to make a point.

Police had been pursuing a strong sighting of them in a Harvester restaurant in Northampton last night.

This morning they were being looked after by officers at Milton Keynes police station. They were expected to be re-united with their parents later today.

Ashley, from West Yorkshire, and Natasha, from the Isle of Wight, are believed to have been plotting to run away in the past few weeks.

A holiday romance blossomed between the couple soon after they met on the island of Cephalonia and they became inseparable. Since they returned the pair have kept in constant touch.

Mrs Lamprey said: "They became really close and spent virtually every day together. It was a typical teenage holiday romance."

Ashley travelled home first, leaving Natasha very upset but they said they would keep in touch, she added.

"They phoned each other virtually every day and wrote letters," Mrs Lamprey said. This morning, speaking outside Ashley's house in Ackworth, West Yorkshire, Pc Jim Tubman said: "I have just had a telephone call to say they have been found safe and well.

"They were together, they are safe and arrangements are being made to reunite them with their respective families. The (Lamprey) family is absolutely relieved.

"It has been a long 48 hours." Detective Inspector Clive Merritt of Hampshire Police said: "It is very good news. Both children have been found.

"They are currently in a police station in the Thames Valley. They are both perfectly OK. They have said nothing."

Natasha's step-grandmother Eileen Clark, 72, said: "I met Ashley when he came down here and he's a nice young lad and they are both sensible, nice kids. They just wanted to meet up. She left a note before she left saying she loved everyone but she had to go.

"Before she left, they wrote letters and she rang him up but that obviously wasn't enough - that's young love, when you are that young it feels a lot more.

"It's going to be a tearful reunion when Natasha and her parents meet up but I guess Natasha will have a bit of a stern talking to as well."

Earlier both families spoke of their fears and appealed for the pair to contact them or the police.

Mrs Lamprey said she had feared for her son's safety.

"He's a home bird, he's not streetwise. He doesn't even go out at night, he's at home with us during the week and spends the weekends with his grandparents."

Mrs Clark said she had thought the romance would be over quickly.

"We just love her and want her home. She's a sensible young girl who's never been in trouble. We thought this would just be puppy love and it would fizzle out."