A mum in Northumberland has praised the team who helped bring her son to safety after he was lost on the Cheviots.

Ten-year-old Hayden went on a hike in the region with his dad Nick during the recent half-term holidays, but the pair ended up separated after they took a wrong turn.

Hayden, who luckily had his dad’s phone, was able to contact mum Kelly when he realised he’d lost contact with his father and family friend who they were walking with, but it soon became a race against time with an intermittent phone signal and a low battery to help locate the 10-year-old.

With a call then being made to Northumbria Police, the force quickly reacted to the incident and begun using the Airbox application that was able to track the youngster’s location using the phone’s GPS signal.

Although only being able to ping his location for just a few seconds, this was enough for the Police to track where Hayden was stuck and the youngster was found using a police helicopter shortly after with the help of the local mountain rescue crew.

"I can't thank everyone involved enough. It was just so lucky Hayden had his dad's phone as things could have been a lot worse,” said mum Kelly.

"It's the worst feeling in the world not being able to help knowing your son is distressed and potentially in danger.

"The police were brilliant and I am so grateful for what they did.

"Hayden was of course upset by the incident but I think it took the edge off a bit that he got to go in the police helicopter and ride in a police car. The officers were so lovely with him.

"We have now bought him some walkie-talkies in the hope that when he gets his confidence back, he might go hiking with his dad again soon."

The Airbox technology, which has only been used by the force during the last few years, was key to the rescue, according to Firearms Support Unit Inspector, Graeme Homewood.

"Our Armed Response Vehicles were sent to the scene and using Airbox it allowed us to send a message to Hayden's phone and once accepted, we were able to accurately pinpoint his location and bring him to safety,” added Insp Homewood.

"We've had the equipment for around two years and it really has been a game changer for us. It allows us as a team to pinpoint the location of our cars and crews and plan effectively our tactical responses to situations like this.

"All teams on the Firearms Support Unit have access to this app so it is very much a team approach to helping us improve our response to incidents like this.

As part of the rescue, Northumbria Police called on both the Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Teams and representative Iain Nixon was pleased to see the family reunited.

 “We were delighted that we were able to help reunite Hayden with his parents,” added Iain.

“The dedicated team of volunteers who turned up on the day provided a fantastic response alongside our colleagues from the police.

“We are called out to a range of incidents, from missing people to injured walkers, and it is always extremely satisfying to know that you have helped return someone safely home.”