A six-year-old girl who went missing at night was found asleep in a field half a mile away from her home after a search with a police helicopter.

       National Police Air Service South West (NPAS) officers were dispatched to search for the girl when she was reported missing from a farm in Chittlehamholt, Devon, on 7 August.

       She was eventually found asleep in pitch dark by helicopter crews using an infra-red camera system and returned home safely to her parents.

       The incident was described as “every parent’s worst nightmare” by an NPAS spokesperson, who shared details and video on social media showing how officers managed to locate the girl.

       “The National Police Air Service operates from a network of 14 bases across England and Wales to support police officers on the ground and help keep our communities safe,” they said.

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       “In this instance, a massive team effort from the police control room, the police officers on the ground and the officers in the air to get this child home safely to her terrified parents.”

       The video shared by the service shows a girl lying in a field before standing up, presumably as she hears the sound of the helicopter above her.

       A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that officers were called to a “rural property in the Umberleigh area” at 9.30pm on 7 August after a young girl was reported missing.

       “Officers attended and carried out an area search along with the police helicopter and a dog unit,” they said.

       “The child was located safe and well in a field around 10.40pm by the helicopter working with officers on the ground. She was taken to hospital to be checked over as a precaution.”