TOPSHAM, Maine — Two second-grade girls who went missing from Woodside Elementary School in Topsham on Thursday morning were found safe early in the afternoon, according to police.

Topsham Police Chief Marc Hagan said the girls were found in the woods after leaving school grounds earlier in the day. He said there is no suspicion of foul play.

Police said the children had planned to go to a store but began hiding after becoming scared they might get in trouble.

Superintendent Heidi O’Leary said the school went into a shelter-in-place while authorities searched the area, but students were not told what was happening. “We’ll try to make sure this never happens again,” she said.

Hagan thanked everyone who helped in the search, including law enforcement teams with three search dogs. Parents

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