NOSTALGIA: Runaways return after brothers’ tiff

Two Batley youngsters were back home after triggering a dramatic police search.

Neil, 11, and Darren Spencer, aged seven, of Arncliffe Gardens, Healey, were reported missing by their parents at 9.30am on Thursday January 11 1990. Police began searching for them and at 2.30pm called in the new £1m West Yorkshire Police helicopter to help. Six-and-half-hours after their dissapearance they returned home after seeing the helicopter and hearing their names being broadcast. The pair had had a falling out – both saw the front door open in the morning and thought the other had left the house so went looking for each other. “We both promise that we’ll never run away again,” said a repentant Neil.