A mum has claimed two 16-year-old girls who were missing from home were able to book a three-night stay at Liverpool's Adelphi Hotel just minutes after being turned away for being too young.
The teenagers disappeared from their homes in north Wales and travelled to the city while their parents frantically looked for them.
The children turned up at the historic Adelphi, in the city centre, and were initially turned away as they looked young and could not supply ID, the mum claims.
But it is claimed the girls went back outside, approached a random man on the street and persuaded him to help them book a room.
He agreed after they offered to pay for a separate room for him and the booking was made.
One of the girls' mums says the second attempt happened just minutes after the first failed attempt.
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But she says that because they were accompanied by an adult on the second occasion, the transaction, in September, was approved.
Relatives eventually managed to track down the teens when one of them accidentally sent a screenshot of a FaceTime conversation with them.
That revealed a picture of a bed headboard, and family members painstakingly matched that furniture by trawling for hours through hotel room pictures on a hotel booking website.
Police found the girls at 3am and they were taken back to their Welsh homes.
It is understood they were not hurt and didn't suffer any psychological trauma.
The matter has been reported to the police by the mum over potential child safeguarding issues and North Wales Police are investigating.
The Adelphi did not respond when contacted for comment by the ECHO.
The girls had got in a taxi which took them to Chester railway station and then on to Liverpool.
The mum, who has asked us not to name her or her daughter, told the ECHO: "The girls were unable to book in themselves, so they dragged a random man off the streets to do it for them.
"This is not acceptable to me, the fact she was turned away and then allowed back with this man.
"We spent days looking for her driving round."
She added: "Luckily my daughter was brought home by the police and had suffered no mental or physical harm.
"This could have been a very bad outcome."
North Wales Police are investigating the circumstances.
Detective Tim Evans, from their exploitation unit, said: "Missing person reports can be a sign or indicator that children may be at risk of exploitation.
"Investigations are instigated where potential perpetrators and, or criminal offences are identified while a multi-agency approach ensures ongoing child safeguarding considerations.
“Legislation might also be used to support disruption; for example the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, 2014 or the Licencing Act, 2003.
"However, generally where locations of concern are identified, the local authority, police and appropriate partners may agree a joint action plan.
"This plan may consider providing exploitation and vulnerability awareness briefings to staff and management around signs of exploitation."
