MYSTERY surrounds what prompted a Hampshire mum to suddenly vanish without a trace, leaving her young son stranded at school.

A major police search was launched to find mum-of-one Kelly Garrett, who disappeared after dropping her little boy off at the school gates.

But last night her anxious family got the news they had been desperately waiting for when the 38-year-old made contact with them to let them know she was okay.

Her panic-stricken family raised the alarm on Tuesday when she failed to pick her young son up from school that afternoon – leaving her phone and keys behind at her home in Hythe.

Police stepped up their search as their concern grew, knowing that her disappearance was out of character for her, although she had been upset recently.

Mum-of-one Kelly had last been seen when she dropped her young son off at school on Tuesday morning.

She hadn’t told friends or staff at the school that she wouldn’t be able to collect him.

She had last been seen wearing light-coloured, possibly white leggings or skinny jeans, a bright coloured top and was carrying a beige shoulder bag.

Officers distributed Kelly’s picture and description to officers across the county as the search grew.

They had also circulated their appeal to the Metropolitan Police area, as they said their enquiries suggested that Kelly could have been in the Greenwich area of London.

Her sudden disappearance also worried neighbours, including Maria Miles, who said she believed Kelly worked at an estate agents in Hythe and lived at the property in Langdown Road with her partner and son.

The 63-year-old said she had last seen her on Monday as she left for work.

“She was at her door and she waved to me. That would have been the last time I saw her.

“She’s hard-working and a good mum – just an overall nice person,” she said.

But last night there was great relief after Kelly contacted her loved ones.

Police confirmed that she is “well” and was out of the county.