Two teenage sweethearts who went missing from their Chelmsford homes have been found safe and well.

Stephen Moore, of Roland Close, and Samantha Davidson, of Thames Avenue, both aged 14, disappeared at lunchtime on Monday.

Police refused to say exactly where the pair had reappeared or if they had come forward voluntarily.

Samantha's mum, Anne Davidson, said she was happy they had turned up safely, but added that she had not yet seen her daughter. Samantha is currently with her father at another address.

It had been reported that the youngsters had been targeted by gangs as they come from different estates in the town.

Stephen's father David Moore said the couple had complained of being bullied and added they had separately "received some unwelcome attention" from people in the town.

"I believe that certain aspects may have been exaggerated and I feel they may have misled me and my wife over it."

But Mr Moore said: "If they were so unhappy about being in Chelmsford why did they stay around for two days?"

Mr Moore was reunited with his son at Chelmsford Police Station last night.

A search for the pair had been launched by police yesterday and photographs were released to the media.

The Gazette can reveal it is not the first time the couple have run off together.

Station officer assistant Andy Lumb, from Chelmsford police station, said yesterday that Stephen and Samantha went missing for 24 hours a month ago.

He said: "They caused great concern. They are very much in love. Hopefully we can sort out what problems they have got - if any."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.