The community spirit in Deal shone through in a search for a missing five-year old boy with autism at last night's fireworks display.

Thousands had gathered along the sea front to enjoy the annual Party on the Prom - one of the main events as part of Deal Regatta Week.

Little Leo Whalley had been following his family up the beach to go home when he decided to throw one last pebble in the sea.

When his mother Sam Nix, of Downs Road, turned around at the top she couldn't see him prompting a half an hour search for the boy wearing a bright orange hoody.

With help from hundreds of strangers who were alerted to the incident by announcement made from the stage, a search began.

People looked in nearby car parks, under the pier and also down at the fair before the youngster was found by Deal Castle.

Miss Nix said: "There's no words for it.

"All I felt was relief. I was in shock for a while. I still am.

"I'd like to say thank you to everyone for helping. I'm so glad he was found safe.

"I said to my friends that if I'd lost him in any other place, I don't think he would have been found so quickly.

"Everyone came together. It was amazing. I couldn't ask for a better community."

Miss Nix had been enjoying the event with friends and family including her four children, Willow, nine, five-year-old twins Skye and Leo, and Marley, three, from the beach beside the pier.

At the end of the night, she and her nephew Jamie Cullen were carrying Marley in her pram up the pebbles when Leo disappeared.

She said: "He'd gone in seconds.

"I ran to the stage and asked if they could put an announcement out.

"I then ran to the ambulance people and they radioed it through their system.

"They told me to just stay on the spot with my other three children.

"I felt hopeless but I could hear everyone shouting his name and see them looking under the pier with torches."

Chairman of Deal & Walmer Regatta Association John Trickey said: "When we managed to get the PA on and I just shouted, 'Stop! Look! We've lost a little boy.'

"It was lovely that the people of Deal just came together to look for him, but we all know that's Deal."

Miss Nix was particularly concerned as her son, who is undergoing diagnosis for autism, doesn't always react like other children. She was most fearful that he may have entered the sea.

She said: "He is obsessed with water so my fear was he may have gone in for a swim.

"I also knew he would not react like another child and would not stand there crying or think to ask for help.

"I was very wary of the fact that he has no sense of danger and would not think to look before crossing roads.

"I thought he would either hide or run.

"I also knew if anyone shouted his name he would not respond as he never turns around if you call him.

"Leo doesn't really know how to always answer questions either, so I knew if he had been found he may only give little information.

"Luckily he was able to state his name and age and the road he lived in, which is something I never thought he would be able to do."

Having lost sight of his family Leo decided to walk home.

He was found by Mandy Marsh by Deal Castle, who wasn't aware of the search but had noticed the boy was unaccompanied.

They were then spotted by members of the search party who were returning from the fair on Walmer Green.

Miss Nix said: "It seemed like forever that he was gone.

"We're really lucky this lady stopped him."

She added: "We're going back out tonight for the carnival but Leo has asked to wear reins."

Deal Carnival begins at 7pm tonight from The Strand.

It is set to feature more than 55 floats.

Mr Trickey said: "Our regatta week just seems to go from strength to strength. We're so proud of it and the support we receive.

"The carnival donations are our main source of fundraising and the costs go up every single year so please give generously.

"As ever, please don't throw anything unless it's a note."