A BOY who sparked an all-night search after running away from home during an argument with his parents was found today safe and well.

Nathan Lowry, 12, left his home in Wheeler's Close, Gosport, in a temper yesterday afternoon.

Police were especially worried about him because he was described as being vulnerable, due to having a speech impediment and being slightly deaf. He also has learning difficulties.

Police appealed for the public to help trace the boy and launched a search of the area close to Haslar Lake, near where he lives and has relatives.

However, he was discovered unharmed this morning in a shop in San Diego Road, about a quarter of a mile away. His father went with a police officer to collect him after a member of the public called police.

Inspector Kirsty Blaylock, of Gosport police, said: "An officer went and picked him up and was going back home and we will be speaking to him about what he has been doing since he went missing.''

Wendy Thompson, owner of the Alldays store where Nathan was found, said: "He wasn't in the store, but I heard him screeching and screaming outside. I think it was his sister who found him.

"When I asked her what was going on she said he'd been out all night."

Shortly after leaving his home in a bad mood, Nathan, who had never run away from home before, met a cousin in Hornet Close and then ran off again.

His worried parents called police, who launched a land, air and sea search.

The operation lasted all night and this morning, with dog units, all-terrain vehicles, the police spotter plane and Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service.

His parents were too upset to talk.