A schoolboy sparked a major search operation when he disappeared on a school trip to Devil's Dyke, on the Downs outside Brighton.

But rescue teams stood down when it emerged 11-year-old Buster Bate had gone off to visit a relative who lived nearby.

Sussex Police alerted local radio stations when the youngster wandered away from fellow pupils shortly after 11.45am yesterday.

Officers began searching the area and radio bulletins announced sightings of a boy walking south over the A27 towards Hove.

The search was called off at 2.30pm when police were told Buster had been found safe and well at a relative's house.