A LITTLE girl whose disappearance sparked a huge police search was found two hours later sleeping inside a suitcase at her home.

Muumbe Hapenga's father phoned the emergency services on Tuesday after a frantic and fruitless search of their house in Netherhall, Leicester.

Police cars and helicopters were deployed and neighbours, friends and off-duty officers joined the effort to find her, scouring streets and gardens for the three-year-old.

Then at 4pm, after searching the family home, in Armadale Drive, for a second time, police officers found the tired youngster asleep under clothes inside a large suitcase.

Her father, Austen Hapenga, 39, a mental health nurse, told the Leicester Mercury: "I checked the house two or three times and I even looked in the suitcase, but she had buried herself under the clothes.

"I was really scared when I couldn't find her. I kept thinking about all the things that have happened to children and it made me terrified."

In a statement, Leicestershire Police confirmed that they received a report at 1.54pm on Tuesday of a missing three-year-old girl.

The force said: "The girl was reported missing from her home address by a family member.

"Officers attended the scene and made a search of house. The girl was later found safe and well.

"Officers would like to thank members of the local community for their help during the search."