PARENTS have hit out at security at a Royston school after the police had to be called to help locate two missing children. The young pair from Roman Way First School, thought to both be four years old, left the school premises, in Burns Road, Royston, at

PARENTS have hit out at security at a Royston school after the police had to be called to help locate two missing children.

The young pair from Roman Way First School, thought to both be four years old, left the school premises, in Burns Road, Royston, at lunch time on Thursday, and after a frantic search involving staff and police officers, were located at a nearby park.

A school spokesman called the incident an "unfortunate one-off", but parents believe more needs to be done to keep pupils safe.

One parent, who asked not to be named, said: "It's really worrying that they were able to get out so easily, then cross Burns Road and wander into the park. The road is very busy and they could have been knocked over by a car or who knows what else.

"Apparently nobody noticed they had gone until the end of lunch time, and anything could have happened to them by then. I'm really concerned about how safe my child is there after hearing about this."

Another mum who contacted The Crow said: "This is precisely why my children don't go there. I went for a look round and I wasn't at all impressed by the security measures they have in place.

"Those children's lives could have been in danger."

A spokesman for Roman Way First School said: "During playtime on Thursday, two of our children who were being supervised by a mid-day supervisor, left our playground through the shared boundary with Roysia Middle School.

"They were called back to our site, but ignored staff and ran off through Roysia's school field and onto the street. Staff immediately went out to bring them back, informed their parents and called the police.

"The children were quickly brought back to school and we met their parents later that day to offer our apologies and explain the circumstances."

The spokesman added that the school already had new security measures in the pipeline, and that these would be installed this week.

She added: "These include new gate arrangements for our nursery and infant playgrounds, the fencing off of the field from the playground and a new fence and gate from the edge of Roysia Middle School to the main fence.

"Hertfordshire County Council is also due to carry out a site safety audit for us shortly. This was an unfortunate one-off incident."

A spokesman for Hertfordshire police said that their officers were called to join the search at approximately 1.15pm, and that the children were found at around 1.30pm.