Boy locked in toilet (From Stroud News and Journal)

Boy locked in toilet

A FRANTIC Minchinhampton couple were re-united with their missing 12-year-old son after he spent all night locked in a pub toilet.

Andrew Thomas sparked a police manhunt after failing to come home to mum and dad Paul and Marion, of the Bulwarks, around 11pm on Saturday.

But their fears were thankfully put to rest when a member of staff at the village's Crown Inn went to unlock on Sunday morning and found Andrew locked in the gents.

"There was such a great feeling of relief when he was first found," said Mr Thomas.

"But then feelings of anger crept in and I just wanted to tell him off for what he had put us through.

"He said once he realised no-one was going to come to let him out he just lay down on the floor and went to sleep.

"He couldn't come to much harm in there after all, could he? And he wasn't going to die of thirst because there was plenty of water on tap.

"I joked with him that I've always wanted to be locked in a pub overnight but he's actually gone and done it - although not the best bit of the pub, unfortunately for him."

Mr Thomas said Andrew had nipped into the pub toilets after nature called when he was out with pals.

He added: "Just as he was in there someone locked the door and although he shouted and banged the door no-one heard him and everything went dark."

A member of staff at the Crown Inn declined to comment, but a Gloucestershire police spokesman said: "We are very glad that Andrew has been found safe and well. We are told he was absolutely fine - but slightly cross."