Two teenage runaways who sparked a police hunt turned up safe and sound yesterday after reading a tearful plea from their parents.

Kayleigh Edwards, 15, and her friend Hayley Piper, also 15, disappeared from their homes in Brighton last Thursday.

They took no money or clothes and police became worried for their safety after Hayley rang her father and said they were lost.

The girls, who attend East Brighton College of Media Arts, went home yesterday after reading a story in the Argus describing how their parents were frantic with worry.

Kayleigh, from Bevendean, said they decided to skip work experience at Churchill Square and instead went to London to see a friend.

The pair came back to Brighton on Saturday and had been staying with friends until yesterday.

She said: "I don't know why I didn't ring. Then I saw the Argus and I started crying and rang mum. I feel really guilty. We thought it would be fun to do something new but it wasn't - it was horrible. I was scared."

Her father, Peter Edwards, said he was relieved Kayleigh was safe.

Mr Edwards said: "The Argus story really helped. The friends they were staying with didn't even know they were missing.

"I was really happy Kayleigh was safe but I did sit down with her and point out a few facts, like the expense to the police."

Hayley's father Andy Piper, from Moulsecoomb, said: "I think they wanted to have a bit of fun. I told them off because we were worried and had got the police looking for them."