Missing six-year-old Summer Haipule was today found safe after a massive police hunt - at a house six doors from her home.

More than 80 officers spent 12 hours scouring Sussex following reports Summer had been snatched from the street and bundled into a clapped-out Ford Escort outside a chip shop near her home in Moulsecoomb, Brighton.

But just after 7am today a neighbour in Bolney Road emerged from her home to tell officers: "I've found Summer."

After scenes of relief at her return, police later said the incident had turned into a criminal investigation.

They said no one had been charged but would give no further details.

It is thought the little girl, who they described as intelligent and articulate, had wandered into neighbour Vicky Wilson's house unnoticed and fallen asleep beneath a cot.

She was discovered when Mrs Wilson went to check on her own children and found her quietly reading a book oblivious to the commotion.

The gap-toothed schoolgirl was reunited with her parents Minday and Dragon, looking bewildered and sleepy.

They paused briefly on the steps of Mrs Wilson's house then walked to their own home 20 metres away.

Summer, wearing a pink dress, had her face buried in her mother's shoulder as photographers recorded the emotional reunion. Fighting back tears, Summer's father Dragon said: "We are so happy. This has been the most dreadful night of our lives."

The family, who spent the night with police officers and Press camped on their doorstep, then retreated inside their 1930s semi.

Shortly afterwards the confused little girl was said to be smiling again after a cheese spread sandwich, a cup of hot milk and a chocolate bar.

Mrs Wilson, a mother-of-two in her 20s who lives with husband Darren and their two children, explained how she went into her children's room shortly after 7am and stumbled on the missing girl.

She said: "I went in to check on my baby and my five-year-old son, who sleeps in a bed next to the cot.

"I suddenly noticed a book moving under the cot. I peered underneath and there she was, there was Summer.

"She was just lying there reading. She seemed absolutely fine. I can't believe my son didn't notice her."

Chief Superintendent Paul Curtis, who led the hunt for Summer which involved a helicopter, dog searches, stop-checks on cars and house-to-house inquiries, said the house where she was found had been visited twice during the night but not searched.

He said: "This is just the most amazing news. It's the best news we could have hoped for.

"Her parents are completely overwhelmed at getting her back a little bit sleepy but otherwise well. They are ecstatic.

"It's difficult to describe their emotions. They were fearing the worst, especially her mother, but they have got their child back safe and well."

He described the moment Summer was discovered.

He said: "Just when we were out holding a Press conference a neighbour came and said she had found her in her house. It appears from initial inquiries she was just asleep under the cot.

"The mother was completely unaware Summer was there and we've no idea how she got there.

"The report of the abduction came from a 13-year-old witness but he was a very credible witness and we had to treat it with the utmost seriousness.

"It does seem bizarre that Summer was only a few doors away but we acted correctly on the information we were given last night.

"We now need to speak further to the witness, bearing in mind he's 13 years old. We had to stop speaking to him last night because he was so tired. We will have to find out how and why the abduction report came about."

Mr Curtis said there was no question of another child having been abducted from the estate last night.

He added: "The boy knows Summer. He is a family friend and he specifically said he saw Summer.

"We want to find out the sequence of events last night. It's most unlikely she was taken into a car but these are the kind of questions we want answered.

"It was 14 hours until she was found and to be satisfied we need to account for every one of those hours."

The upbeat mood of Summer's discovery changed when it was revealed a criminal investigation had been launched.

Chief Supt Curtis said: "As a result of initial inquiries we are now conducting a criminal investigation.

"We cannot tell you any more at the moment. You will not be talking today to either Summer's parents or the people in the house where she was found."

He refused to elaborate but added no one had so far been arrested.

Sarah Speer, 30, mother of Chloe, 18 months and Daniel, 12, of Bolney Road, said: "It was very scary last night. We heard at 7pm she'd gone and didn't hear until 7am she was safe. Those twelve hours were horrible.

"It was going through my mind what that little girl might be going through. It brought tears to my eyes and made me keep a tighter hold on Chloe , even though she is too young to be playing outside.

"It's such a relief. We're a close-knit community. It hits you harder when it's on your doorstep."

Kelly Fricker, 24, mother of five-year-old Callum, who is a friend of Summer, said: "I was devastated when I heard.

"Callum used to play with Summer in her house.

"She's a sweet girl. She used to look after my two-year-old when he was playing in the garden.

"All the kids play in the street here and everyone keeps an eye out for them."