Ben was last seen at around 7pm when he left a friend’s home in Riddfield Road, Birmingham.

He had been out playing football with 12-year-old Simon Kesterton.

The two boys had then gone to a chip shop before Ben decided to walk the short distance home.

Police say he has now been reunited with his parents after turning up at a address in the Kingstanding area of Birmingham shortly after 2.30pm today.

A police helicopter had been brought in to search for Ben yesterday evening and fears over his safety increased today particularly due to the extremely cold weather overnight.