IT was an early morning escapade that could easily have ended in tragedy.

A five-year-old boy was found wandering along a busy Hampshire road after waking up and deciding to go for an adventure - even though it was still virtually dark.

While his parents slept he managed to unlock the front door and sneak out of the house undetected.

A short time later he was found walking along Ringwood Road, Totton, one of the busiest routes in and out of the town centre.

Luckily it was just before 6.30am and traffic was still comparatively light.

Dressed only in his nightclothes, the boy was spotted by a member of the public who called the police.

Officers were quickly on the scene and gently questioned the child.

After establishing where he lived they returned him to his parents, who were still asleep and unaware their son was walking the streets.

Police are refusing to say where the boy lives or where exactly he was found.

It is not known how far he walked, what route he took or whether he crossed any main roads before he was spotted.

A police spokesman said: “Police were called at 6.26am yesterday by a member of the public who had come across the boy on his own in the street.

“Officers located his home address within 15 minutes and returned the boy to his parents, who were delighted.

“He appears to have unlocked the front door and left the address while they were still in bed.”

The spokesman said the child was none the worse for his dawn adventure.

Totton councillor David Harrison added: “I’m so pleased that somebody had the good sense to report what they had seen and that the police acted so quickly in returning the young boy to the safety of his home.

“It’s every parent’s nightmare and just demonstrates how these things can so easily happen.”

Other people posted messages on the Daily Echo website yesterday after the story was published online.

Laura8458 said: “Thank goodness a decent person found him and called the police. Could have been much worse.”