Police who mounted a search across the US for a North-East man and his "missing" family have defended themselves against allegations of being over-the-top.

The small police department in the town of Rainier, Oregon, called in the FBI to help the hunt for Andrew Jones, his estranged wife and her toddler son.

They were thought to be in danger but the couple were really just trying to save their troubled 12-month marriage.

Police in Rainier - described as "a place where nothing ever happens" by locals, and with a population of just 1,650 - said it was Mrs Jones' family who pushed them to take her disappearance so seriously.

Sergeant Ralph Painter, part of the police department which has just six officers, said: "It is just one of those things that got out of hand.

"We are a small department, this is a small area, and we had a lot of family members thinking something bad had happened.

* For the full story read tomorrow's Northern Echo.