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A little boy from China who got lost in South Shropshire was quickly reunited with his relieved mum thanks to the help of the police and two restaurant staff from Ludlow.

The eight-year-old boy had only arrived in the country on Tuesday July 27, to visit his mum who lives in Cleobury Mortimer.

He had gone for a walk yesterday afternoon but, not knowing the area, had got lost, ending up in the middle of nowhere, over a mile outside the town on the A4117.

Unable to speak English, he was found by a lady passing in her car with her children at about 2.30pm. She stayed with him and contacted police, who brought the youngster to Ludlow Police Station for safety until they could find out who he was and where he had come from.

Police Constable Paul Sparrow, who looked after the boy, said he had been scared and confused when he arrived at the station.

"He couldn't speak a word of English so couldn't understand any of us. By the time we arrived, he had tears streaming down his face and probably thought he was in some sort of trouble," he said.

"We have a translation book and tried to let him know we just wanted to help, giving him some chocolate and putting the television on for him, but he was understandably frightened and wouldn't say a word."

Fortunately, help was at hand in the form of Mark Hau, from the Evergreen restaurant in Old Street and his nephew's daughter, Siao Ling Yang, who works at The Wonder House restaurant.

PC Sparrow, who has known Mr Hau for a number of years, went to the restaurant to ask if he could help with translation.

"Mark immediately left what he was doing there and then to assist," said PC Sparrow.

"He suggested we also bring his nephew's daughter along, as Mark only spoke Cantonese but he said it was likely the young lad would speak Mandarin if he turned out to be from China.

"Ms Yang also agreed to help immediately and came with us back to the station, bringing her three-year-old son along as company for the lad.

"As it turned out, the child was from China and did indeed speak Mandarin and, with Ms Yang's help, we were able to quickly let him know he was not in any trouble and we just wanted to get him home safely.

"His face just lit up when he realised there was someone there who could understand and speak to him and that we just wanted to help him."

The youngster was finally able to explain where he was from and what had happened and was reunited with his relieved mother, who had been out looking for him, by 5pm.

"Without the assistance of Siao Ling Yang and Mark Hau, it would have taken us so much longer to get the lad home and safe with his family," said PC Sparrow.

"They were both fantastic, Ms Yang even offering to come with us to Cleobury Mortimer in the police car so she could translate the directions.

"Their assistance was invaluable to us resolving the situation quickly and our sincere thanks go to both of them."