Runaways found in France

The couple were found near Paris

A British schoolgirl who ran away from her Spanish home with her boyfriend has been found with him in France.

The grandmother of Amanda McDonnell said the 14-year-old was due to be reunited with her mother at a police station near Paris.

A massive search was launched when Amanda and 17-year-old Glasgow-born boyfriend Steven Laing went missing on 12 September.

Amanda's grandmother Cathie Mutch, from Livingston in Scotland, said Amanda's mother Carol Beech was on her way to collect her daughter after speaking to her on the telephone.

Apparently they seemed to be quite unaware of everybody looking for them and had no idea the police were looking out for them Cathie Mutch Amanda's grandmother

Mrs Mutch said Mrs Beech and her husband Malcolm then received a phone call from police at about 0430 BST saying she was in their care.

She told BBC News Online: "All I know is that her mother heard from her somewhere in France early this morning.

"Apparently they seemed to be quite unaware of everybody looking for them and had no idea the police were looking out for them.

"They had a quick chat and Carol asked for her to come home so they can work everything out."

Mrs Mutch said she was delighted to receive the news.

She said: "We're all just so happy and relieved, you never know what could have happened to them.

"I thought they had come to Scotland from all the reports but then we found out that they might have been in Europe and that frightened me because we worried that they might have become lost.

Cathie Mutch welcomed the news

"Every time the phone went we thought it might have been them and we're just so glad they've turned up safe and sound."

Amanda's grandfather Alistair said: "It's just magic. I just want to hear her voice on the phone before anything else and I'll totally belive it then."

Steven's mother Susan Laing said she had never reported her son as missing because he was "streetwise" and he had been living with Amanda's family for several weeks.

She said: "As far as I was concerned he was on his way to Scotland. I did not know he was with Amanda until I was told on Tuesday."

Steven's mother was also preparing to travel from her home in Alicante to bring her son home.

She said: "I was told by the French police this morning, and I am waiting to find out what is happening."

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said the couple were found near Paris and were in police custody.

Health concerns

The couple left Amanda's home near Alicante in a Belgian-registered car belonging to her family.

Amanda, who went to live in Spain a year ago when her family moved from Wolverhampton, suffers from asthma and her family expressed concerns for her health.

Her 43-year-old mother pleaded with the couple to get in touch.

Steven had been living with Amanda's family before the couple fled.

They met four or five months ago when Steven worked at a local bar at Alfaz Del Pi, between Altea and Benidorm, Spain.

Mrs Beech had described the couple as being "besotted" with each other.