'We had no idea where he's been... we have no idea what he will be like when he comes home'

The aunt of a boy who went missing from Oldham six years ago and has now been found in France said she is 'relieved' after having 'no idea where he had been'.

Alex Batty disappeared after going on holiday to Spain with his mum Melanie and his grandad David in 2017. He was 11-years-old.

Detectives believe his mum abducted him to live an 'alternative' lifestyle abroad. Now age 17, Alex is believed to have been found in the early hours of Wednesday after being offered a lift when walking alone near the city of Toulouse.

READ MORE: 'He's coming home': Grandmother's joy as missing Alex Batty is found in France

READ MORE: Alex Batty: Missing boy 'wanted to see grandmother and have a normal future'

On Thursday night, Alex’s aunt Maureen Batty, from Nelson in Lancashire, said she was 'relieved' the teenager was safe, the Mirror reports. The 73-year-old said: "I am glad he has been found because we had no idea about where he has been for the last six or seven years.

"I am relieved that he is safe. He is coming home next week. I don’t know where his mother or grandad are and they are not pressing Alex about it yet. Alex hasn’t had any education while out there, so we don’t know what he’ll be like when he comes home.

"It has affected me. Alex has had it rough. It is a mess. I’ve been told that Alex said that he had escaped and he didn’t want to lead that lifestyle.

"So he is thinking straight on those lines. I just want to know the truth about what’s gone on. He is safe now."

According to the PA news agency, chiropody student Fabien Accidini, 26, found Alex on Wednesday after spotting him walking alone. The student told Sky News that Alex revealed that since being kidnapped by his mother they had lived in a luxury house in