A mother and her four children have been found safe after a judge ordered a nationwide search for them.

The hunt for Jennifer Jones and Jessica, 14, Tomas, 12, Eva, nine, and David Palacin Jones, eight, was sparked after the mother failed to obey a court order for the youngsters to be returned to their father in Spain.

All five were found at 11am today in Gwent – more than 50 miles away from her home in Llanelli, Wales.

After losing a legal battle in the High Court against her divorced Spanish husband Tomas Palacin Cambra, Miss Jones left London and is thought to have travelled home.

She and her children were not at the property when police and social services called, prompting a judge to release their details and launch an appeal for information.

Dyfed Powys Police said the family had been found and Mr Palacin Cambra was “overjoyed” with the news.

A Gwent police spokeswoman said: “I can confirm that the four children missing from the Llanelli area were found in the Gwent area just after 11am this morning.

“Police and local authority are now working together with family members to ensure the ongoing safety of the children.”

Judge Mr Justice Roderic Wood, who asked on Tuesday for the public’s help finding Miss Jones and the children, is due to analyse developments at a High Court hearing in London later.

Lawyers representing Mr Palacin Cambra updated the judge at a private hearing earlier before Ms Jones was found.