Village of 'few dozen people' didn't know missing teen was living among them
A tiny southern French village of just a handful of people is in shock after finding out missing British boy Alex Batty had been living among them.
The now-17-year-old, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, disappeared six years ago while travelling with his mum and grandfather, who are suspected of kidnapping him. Last week, he was picked up by a lorry driver as he walked along a road in the pouring rain, having decided to make his way back to the UK.
A French deputy prosecutor said it's believed he spent two of those six years in France, first staying in Camps-sur-l'Agly which has just a few dozen people living there. Residents in the mountainous village in the foothills of the Pyrenees knew Alex as 'Zach' and had "no idea" who he really was.
Frederic Hambye and Ingrid Beauve - two Belgian nationals who own the La Bastide guesthouse - said Alex first stayed with them in late 2021 and "liked to cook". He was supposed to stay without his mum Melanie Batty for several days or weeks, contributing to the converted farm's maintenance in exchange for bed and board. He then stayed again for several periods of varying lengths.
Police suspect mum Melanie - who does not have parental guardianship - and grandfather David Batty of having abducted him in 2017, under the pretence of going on holiday in Spain. Speaking to AFP, Camps-sur-l'Agly resident and local councillor Roger Vales, 79, said: "We had no idea.
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"They were nice people. The boy, when we drove past, we'd see him and say hello. And the grandpa, we'd often spot him working, fixing up walls."
Camps-sur-l'Agly, a mountainous village in the foothills of the Pyrenees (AFP via Getty Images)Alex has returned to the care of his grandmother Susan Caruana, and told reporters outside her home: "I'm glad to be here for Christmas." However, he reportedly declined to speak further, adding: "I am sorry, I can't talk to you because of the probe." It is thought Alex had been living an "alternative" lifestyle with his mother and grandfather across Spain, Morocco and France while he was missing.
Lorry driver Fabien Accidini said the teenager told him he had been hiking in nearby mountains for more than four days in an attempt to return to England. Toulouse deputy prosecutor Antoine Leroy told reporters Alex had said he knew his way of life with his mother "had to stop" after she announced an intention to move to Finland.
Village councillor, Roger Vales (AFP via Getty Images)This led him to walk for "four days and four nights" across the Pyrenees, the prosecutor said. On the whereabouts of Alex's mother and grandfather, Mr Leroy said: "It is possible that the mother at this time has in fact gone to Finland, as she planned. The grandfather, who has always been with his daughter and grandson, is said to have died approximately six months ago."
Alex was described as "tired" but "in good health" after being checked over by French officials and seemed "intelligent" even though he had not attended school for six years. The prosecutor also said the boy did not appear to have been subjected to any physical violence.
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