Northwich team praised after little boy goes missing in store playing hide and seek

The parents of a two-year-old boy whose impromptu game of hide and seek led to a frantic search of our Barons Quay store in Northwich have praised colleagues for their help securing the store and then finding him!

His mum wrote to thank former store manager Gayle Lampard and the team – including George section leader Philip Beech, GM colleague Ellie Nelson and Helen Sherman from George – for helping them find her son when he went missing in the George department.

The customer said: "My family and I were buying a new pair of shoes for our daughter, aged six, and while my back was turned my son, aged two, disappeared from sight.

"During the time that we were looking for him my husband and I were completely beside ourselves with worry. We informed security that he was missing and I just wanted to commend the team and store manager Gayle in particular on their actions in helping us find our son. They were swift, slick and very reassuring.

"They got a brief description of our son and then placed security on the door to ensure he couldn’t leave the shop and incorporated staff members to comb the aisles looking for him.

"Once our child was found – hiding under a clothes rail – Gayle came over to make sure we were okay and then gave our children Easter eggs. We are so grateful to her and the team for their actions during what was a very worrying time."

Gayle, who has now moved to our Winsford store, said she and her team were just relieved that the little boy was found safe and well.

She said: "Having your child go missing is your worst nightmare and the parents were panicking.

"The colleagues were brilliant and I'm so proud of them. They are a very close-knit team and everyone pulled together to try to find the little boy.

"I gave him an Easter egg on the understanding that he never did anything like it again!"