Two children who went missing from their home in Putney last week have been reunited with their families after they were found by an eagle-eyed CCTV operator.

The boys, aged nine and 11, both from the Ashburton estate, had gone missing after a trip to the shops early on Friday evening.

When the boys did not return the older boy's mother frantically contacted the police. The alarm was raised at 11.10pm.

As police searched Putney for the missing children a call went out to the council's CCTV control room which is able to monitor all the cameras owned and operated by the town hall.

Armed with a brief description of the runaways, details of what they were wearing, and information that they may have headed towards Putney High Street, a council CCTV operator scanned images from the cameras in and around the area and spotted the boys at a bus stop He alerted the police to their location and carried on monitoring them. He was still watching them when he saw them climb aboard a bus heading towards Fulham just before midnight.

He was then steered officers towards the right bus as it crossed Putney Bridge. The police stopped the bus, rescued the children and took them home, where they were reunited with their families.

The council's executive member for community safety, Councillor James Cousins, said: "Thank goodness the cameras managed to pick up these two boys. If it hadn't been for the fast work and quick thinking of the operator these boys could have ended up anywhere.

"I am delighted and relieved that the cameras played a pivotal role in returning two missing children to their families before they came to any harm."