Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have issued a statement following reports that missing Oldham boy Alex Batty has been found in France.

According to reports from France, Alex was found yesterday (Wednesday, December 13) near Toulouse in southern France after he was last seen in 2017.

Alex was aged 11 when he went on a holiday with his mother and grandfather in Spain, however they never returned to the UK and have not been seen since.

Greater Manchester Police have now issued a statement in relation to Alex having been found and identified.

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."

GMP said it is believed Alex was spotted by a member of the public near Toulouse and that GMP is in touch with local police.

Reports in France said Alex's identity has been confirmed by the public prosecutor for Toulouse.

In a statement, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are supporting a British national in France and are in contact with local authorities.”

Alex, a pupil at Hathershaw College, went on a pre-arranged trip with his mum, Melanie Batty, who did not have parental guardianship of Alex - and her father David Batty, to a villa in the Benahavis area near Marbella.

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They flew to Malaga Airport on September 30. 

But despite extensive police inquiries, an international appeal and assistance from Spanish authorities, they have not been seen or heard from since - and Miss Batty and Mr Batty are wanted on suspicion of Alex's abduction.

Inquiries revealed the family left Benahavis on October 8 and it was originally thought they may have fled to Melilla in Morocco.

Appeals were launched to try and find Alex, with his grandmother Susan Caruana, who was Alex's guardian, speaking to The Oldham Times in 2018.

She said at the time: "I love him so much.

"I'm beginning to think I may never see him again. I just hope this appeal helps to find him.

"I just die inside a little bit more every day. I just can't tell anybody how it feels.

"We got on so well. I looked forward to him coming home from school every day."