A NORTH Yorkshire family returning from an Easter trip left a service station and drove for 30 minutes along a motorway before they realised they had left their child behind.

The parents, from Harrogate, only noticed their 12-year-old son was missing when they realised it was quieter than normal in the back of their car, said Inspector John Anderson, of Hampshire Police.

They then returned to the Rownhams service station on the M27, near Southampton, at 9.45am on Saturday, to find their son being looked after by staff.

Inspector Anderson said: "A family visiting the area called in at Rownhams services for refreshments. On leaving, they had been travelling for about 30 minutes when they noticed it was quieter than usual in the back of their car.

"On checking they realised they had left one of their children behind in the services. The 12-year-old was being looked after by the staff and was reunited with his parents when they returned to the services."

Updated: 10:38 Monday, April 01, 2002