A British boy who went missing in 2017 when he was 11 has been found in France and will return home soon, according to French authorities.

Alex Batty never returned from a holiday to Spain with his mother and grandfather.

His identity has been confirmed by his family, said the French prosecutor.

Alex is from Oldham and would now be 17.

A student who spotted him walking at night in heavy rain told French media he offered the teenager a lift and after speaking for a while, Alex told him his story.

He said he’d been walking in the mountains for more than four days in an attempt to return to England.

He reportedly said he’d been kidnapped by his mother and lived in a luxury house with around 10 people, arriving in France around 2021.

Greater Manchester Police said they had been “alerted regarding a possible sighting” and were in contact with French authorities.

A spokesperson said: “This is a complex and long-running investigation, and we need to make further enquiries as well as putting appropriate safeguarding measures in place.”

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