A SEARCH for a 12-year-old boy who failed to return home after leaving to walk his dog was called off several hours later when he was spotted by members of the public.

Johnny Dunn left his home at 7.45am yesterday with his golden retriever, Tess, but his father contacted police when the boy failed to return to his home in Woodside Avenue, Throckley, near Newcastle.

Two search and rescue teams joined police, and family and friends, in a search near the family home. The boy turned up safe and well