An April Fool's Day prank in which a caller claimed a young boy was stuck down a well, was today branded "dangerous and foolish" by police.

Thousands of pounds were wasted as emergency services rushed to the Wat Tyler Country Park in Pitsea on Saturday afternoon following the 999 call. However, they could find no sign of the youngster.

Basildon police, ambulance crews and firefighters from Basildon and Leigh all responded to the hoax call made at about 2pm.

The Essex Air Ambulance and police helicopter were also both sent up to hover over the well.

Sgt Jason Stephen, of Basildon Police, said: "It was potentially quite a dangerous hoax. We committed our own police helicopter and the Essex air ambulance to the matter.

"If another incident had come in, then these would not have been available.

"The call was made from a mobile phone. We have not traced the call yet but we are attempting to do that to speak to the person involved. The air ambulance may be looking at seeking compensation."

Sgt Stephen added that he did not know how much the hoax call had cost the emergency services. However, it costs thousands of pounds each time the air ambulance becomes airborne.

Police searched the area for about half an hour before another call was made to say the boy had got out and was all right.

Sgt Stephen said: "It soon became apparent the call was a hoax. There was nobody at the scene when we got there.

"It was obvious it was people just messing around which was a very foolish thing to do."

A Basildon District Council spokesman, said: "This was a foolish prank which could mis-fired very badly if the emergency services had been required in a real life-or-death situation."

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