Mother and train ride boy reunited

Shabaaz got on a train to Macclesfield

A five-year-old boy who went missing in Glasgow city centre and ended up more than 200 miles away in England has returned home with his mother.

Shabaaz Iqbal became separated from his mother outside a shop in Argyle Street on Saturday at 1430 GMT.

He was eventually spotted by railway staff after getting off a Virgin train at Macclesfield, Cheshire, 229 miles away, just before 2100 GMT.

Shabaaz Iqbal had been on his first visit to Glasgow city centre with his mother and four brothers.

After becoming separated from them, he returned to nearby Glasgow Central Station.

The child boarded a train he thought would take him to his home on the south side of the city.

However, he had in fact boarded the 1606 GMT Virgin Trains service to Reading.

Superintendent Carolyn Harper, who led the search, said: "British Transport Police (BTP) contacted us when Shabaaz stepped off the train at Macclesfield.

"He gave them his first name and he was wearing no socks so we knew it was him.

"We let his mother speak to him over the phone and she was very upset.

His brothers are quite amazed that their youngest brother was able to travel so far in such a short space of time

Superintendent Carolyn Harper

"Shabaaz was fine as he had been entertained by the officers.

"They also bought him a fish supper as he was hungry after such a long journey."

Shabaaz was taken from Macclesfield to the BTP office in Manchester.

He was later reunited with his mother who had travelled down from Glasgow with two police officers.

They arrived in Glasgow at 0700 GMT on Sunday but his family did not wish to speak to reporters.

Supt Harper said: "His brothers are quite amazed that their youngest brother was able to travel so far in such a short space of time.

Acted swiftly

"His mother is still upset and very tired as she has been up all night."

"It was his first trip into Glasgow city centre. When he became separated he instinctively thought the way to get home was the way he had come into town and he got on a train."

A spokesman for Virgin Trains said members of staff acted swiftly when they saw Shabaaz.

The spokesman said: "The boy got off the train at Macclesfield and was spotted on the platform by a member of our staff who approached him, clarified the situation and then spoke to the British Transport Police.

"The procedures were carried out properly."

At the height of the search 60 officers - including dog handlers, mounted police and the force helicopter - scoured Glasgow.