More than 300 children under the care of Kent County Council went missing last year.

A total of 266 Kent youngsters and 72 unaccompanied, asylum-seeking children disappeared at least once between January 1 and December 31, 2019.

KCC's corporate parenting panel was yesterday told 63% of the 338 missing children, aged under 18, said they temporarily left their home to seek contact with friends, family, or spouses.

Kent's young people's council, who attended the meeting, said most of them aren't actually 'missing', but, instead, taking time out from being at home to socialise, such as going to a house party.

Cllr John Burden (Lab), a member of the committee, said: "We want to know why children in care go missing because we care and want to make sure you're safe and secure."

He added: "If we, adults, can go missing for a pint, then they can go missing to see their parents."

KCC officers said a child is often recorded 'missing' when there has been a loss of communication between the youngster and authority or carer, even if only for a short duration of time.

"If we, adults, can go missing for a pint, then they can go missing to see their parents..."

The missing KCC children, most of whom have since returned, represent just 13% of the total number of youngsters in KCC's care, the panel was told during the Maidstone County Hall public meeting earlier today.

When comparing 2019 to 2018, the number of KCC's children in care who had been missing at least once during the year dropped from 355 to 338.

All 266 children have since returned, along with the majority of asylum-seeking youngsters, although a small number remain untraced.

KCC's director of integrated children's services, Sarah Hammond, told the panel: "There are no unknown citizen young people, but we do have a cohort of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who can disappear very quickly."

She indicated that some young migrants can go missing within 24 hours to travel to an 'established community', adding: "They go missing immediately."

A council report was published to the KCC panel last week to find out the main reasons behind the disappearances.

Children's motives included being unhappy or having a disagreement in their home or care setting, 12% of the 338 cohort told the council this during a return interview, which are usually conducted within three days of them being found.

Other factors include relationship problems, a small proportion had also been involved in criminal activity, while others simply wanted to "clear their head".

Cllr Burden, who is also leader of Gravesham Borough Council, added: "Personally, I do have sympathy with people wanting to stay out and clear their head.

"When your adults you get away with that by saying 'I'm going for a pint'."

He added: "Sometimes the language we use and how we approach this issue with young people is important."

Missing family group conferences have been held by KCC since April 2017 to engage with youngsters who frequently disappear - 27 have enlisted so far.

Independently-held return interviews take place, if a child does not want to speak to KCC about their problems.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent