A family who were being held hostage in the US have been rescued - thanks to a pizza.

Cheryl Treadway and her children were apparently being held at knifepoint by her boyfriend Ethan Nickerson in Florida.

But when she was permitted to use a mobile app to order a takeaway, she wrote a cry for help in the special instructions box.

Staff at the pizza outlet recognised Treadway as a regular customer, and shortly called emergency services. Luckily a policeman with negotiation training was able to bring the family to safety and convince Nickerson to surrender himself.

Nickerson had taken methamphetamine and has now been charged with aggravated assault with a weapon without intent to kill, battery, false imprisonment, and obstruction of justice.

Pizza Hut manager Candy Hamilton picked up the order.