The parents of an 11-year-old girl shot dead in France were born in Oldham, it has emerged.

Solaine Thornton was reportedly killed while playing on a swing in the garden of her home in Saint-Herbot, a village near the city of Quimper in Brittany, on Saturday evening.

According to local television network France 3, her father, Adrian Thornton, 53, is in a critical condition, while her mother Rachael Thornton, 49, has non-life-threatening injuries.

Solaine’s sister Celeste Thornton, who is eight years old, managed to escape and raised the alarm, but remains in “shock”, according to reports.

An administrative assistant at Plonévez-du-Faou, which is the local town hall for the family’s hamlet, has told The Oldham Times that Adrian Thornton and Rachael Thornton were born in Oldham and that Solaine and Celeste were born in France.

Guillo Régine, an administrative assistant at the town hall, said: “Mr and Mrs Thornton were born in Oldham in Great Britain.

“They have been living with us for about five years and were already living in France before their arrival. The children were born in France.

"Adrian Thornton is 53 years old, Rachael Thornton is 49 years old, Solaine is 11 years old, and Celeste is eight years old."

Guillo Régine said the town hall did not have a full UK address for Mr and Mrs Thornton in their records.

The Foreign Office is providing assistance to the family.

A spokesperson said: “We are providing consular assistance to a British family following a shooting in France and are in contact with the local authorities.”

The suspect, who is a 71-year-old Dutch national, has been arrested, according to local prosecutors.

Carine Halley, the state prosecutor in Quimper, said the child was dead and her father, was seriously injured when police arrived, The Times reported.

Ms Halley said he was taken to hospital in a critical condition and initial evidence suggests “the suspect suddenly emerged armed with a gun and fired several times towards the victims”, the newspaper reported.

He is reported to have then shut himself in his house with his wife.

The Intervention Group of the National Gendarmerie tactical unit was called to the scene and a negotiator persuaded the neighbour and his wife to give themselves up before they were arrested, the prosecutor reportedly said.

A local resident told French media that the younger child raised the alarm, running to neighbours shouting: “My sister is dead, my sister is dead”.

The Times said the family of four is believed to have lived in their current home for about four or five years and that the two girls were born in France.

Marguerite Bleuzen, the mayor of the nearby village of Plonevez-du-Faou, is reported to have said the family were well-known and came to the village fete.