A FATHER and his two-year-old daughter sparked a rescue operation when they got lost in a North Yorkshire forest in the middle of the night.

The father and toddler were reported missing in Cropton Forest, near Pickering, just before 11pm on Saturday and were found at 12.45am yesterday.

Dave Ward, from Scarborough and District Search and Rescue Team, said they were called into action by the man's wife.

"The family are from the West Midlands and were on holiday at Spiers House Campsite in Cropton Forest," he said.

"The father decided to go for a short walk with his daughter at about 8.15pm but failed to return - the mother reported them missing at around 11pm."

Acting team leader Andrew Priestly instigated a full team callout, instructing team members to meet at the campsite before commencing a search of the forest tracks and paths.

"During the first phase of searching the pair were found sitting alongside a track, having got lost and having decided to stop and wait for help," he said.

"They were returned to the site and reunited with the mother. Both were unharmed."

Updated: 11:36 Monday, August 20, 2001