TWO schoolgirls, who had been missing since Friday, have been found by police.

The girls, who are not related, were found safe and well by police officers in Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, at just after 10am this morning.

They are currently being looked after by police officers.

Police had alerted media to the missing girls on Sunday evening after they left school early on Friday, May 1 and were known to have gone to an address in Shoebury to meet a friend, 22-year-old Kieran Hartley-Anderson.

Police also reported the 22-year-old as missing but are no longer searching for him as he was also found in Hamlet Court Road.

Extensive searches were carried out in the Southend area and enquiries were made among relatives and friends of the girls and Mr Hartley-Anderson.

A 22-year-old man from the Southend area has been arrested in connection with this incident.