Two young boys caught on CCTV footage riding inside the Graham Farmer tunnel yesterday were not caught despite being in there for at least 30 minutes.

Footage released by Main Roads showed two boys - believed to be as young as 11 or 12 - at the mouth of the tunnel about 10.48am on the westbound emergency lane heading east.

Main Roads activated its flashing warning lights to alert motorists of the two pedestrians in the tunnel.

CCTV vision showed the youths spent about 13 minutes in the tunnel before sitting for another five minutes under the East Parade on-ramp.

It is understood they were in the vicinity of the tunnel for approximately half-an-hour.

Police were called by Main Roads but did not arrive in time to catch the two boys while they were in the tunnel.

A Main Roads spokesman said "it could not send anyone into the tunnel" and that it was a "judgement call not to go in" and get them.

He confirmed police could not get there while the two boys were in the tunnel.

"The section of tunnel was on full caution alert," he said.

"Messages were sent over car radios to motorists to tell people to slow down to 40kmh or slower (because) there were two pedestrians in the breakdown lane and to be cautious, and it worked."

He said Main Roads "were monitoring the boys" the whole time they were in the tunnel.

CCTV footage showed the two youths jumped a fence and rode off at 11.16am.

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