TWO runaway teenage sweethearts from the region were found safe and well in North Yorkshire last night, police said.

Paul Baxter, 16, and his 14-year-old girlfriend, Christine Rylance, of South Tyneside, disappeared on Friday.

Northumbria Police said the pair were found by a police officer on the outskirts of Selby at 6.30pm.

The teenagers' parents, who just minutes before were making an emotional televised appeal for their return, were informed and were said to be delighted.

A police spokeswoman said officers were told of the teenagers' whereabouts by a member of the public who had heard the recent Press appeals.

She said: "Both are fit and well and will be returning to their Tyneside homes with Northumbria officers, who were in Yorkshire as part of the inquiry to find Paul and Christine.

"Christine and Paul's parents have been told of the news."

Detectives had said they were confident of finding the couple after they were spotted on security cameras at a shopping outlet near York on Tuesday afternoon.

It is thought they had been staying in bed and breakfast accommodation in the city.

Earlier yesterday, the teenagers' parents held a joint news briefing in South Shields, Tyneside, to appeal for them to get in touch.

The parents urged the pair to come home and said they would not stop them seeing each other.

Paul's stepfather, Gary Owens, said: "We do not know where they are or how they are fending for themselves and it is driving us to distraction.

"We are not going to stop them seeing each other if this is the consequence."

Christine's father, Ian, said: "It is obvious you have feelings for each other. Come home and we will sort it out. You have nothing to worry about."

Christine's stepmother, Paula, said Christine must be missing her half-brother Daniel, who is only four months old.

She said: "Christine is a doting big sister. She mothers him and she has got to be missing him."

Detective Inspector Rob Coulson said Paul had savings of £400 and about £111 in cash.

He had told the Press conference that police were only a few hours behind the couple and revealed that detectives in York had traced the couple to a retail park at the city.