TWO young children sparked a massive police search when they fled school and went missing for more than an hour.

Parents have now demanded to know how the two five-year-olds were able to walk out of the playground undetected.

A workman found the youngsters, pupils at Valley Road Community Primary School, in Corporation Road, Hendon, Wearside, wandering along a busy road, less than a mile from the school.

School staff, including about 15 teachers, searched the school grounds after the boys failed to return to their classroom after lunch.

Police were called an hour later and joined the hunt, before the children's parents were informed they were missing.

The boys, who were wearing blue school uniforms, were found 30 minutes later, walking in Commercial Road before being reunited with their parents.

A police spokesman said: "We are liaising with the school to find out how the youngsters managed to get out of the school gates."

The school is surrounded by 8ft fencing and has buzzer locks fitted throughout.

Today, parents dropping their children off at the school said they were baffled at how the two youngsters managed to walk out of such a secure site.

In a joint statement, Valley Road headteacher Chris Young and Terry Walsh, acting director of education, said children's safety remained their highest priority.

Mr Walsh said: "Parents should be assured that the children are secure and ensure that they co-operate fully with all staff at the school."