Police launched a hunt for a missing five-year-old girl who had sneaked into a neighbour’s empty home to paint her nails.

East Sussex Roads Police and local officers were alerted to the missing five-year-old at 6pm on Thursday.

She was staying with a relative in Hillside Road, Bexhill, when she disappeared.

It emerged she had gone next-door – where no-one was in – to give herself a manicure.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman told The Argus: “Police were called shortly after 6pm to a report a five-year-old girl was missing from her relative's house.

“Officers attended Hillside Road but within the minutes the girl came out of the next door house, though no-one was home. She was safe and well.

“She had painted nails which her mum knew nothing about.”

Roads Police East Sussex tweeted: ““Just been assisting local response with a missing 5yr old. She turned up next door. Turns out she'd been painting her nails there!”