'Home alone' boy will see mother

The boy's family flew to the Canary Islands

A woman who left her 11-year-old son at home while she took a three-week holiday will be allowed to see her son on Christmas Day.

The 33-year-old woman, from New Mills in Derbyshire, allegedly sent her child home from Manchester Airport because he did not have a passport.

It is thought that she told him there was plenty of food in the freezer and that she gave him a set of keys to the house and money for a taxi.

She and the rest of the family flew out to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands where she was eventually tracked down by British police and persuaded to fly home.

Boy's 'best interests'

The boy is now in the care of Derbyshire County Council who say he will be allowed to spend some of the Christmas break with his mother, including Christmas Day.

However a Social Services spokesman said the boy would remain in foster care for the "foreseeable future."

The spokesman said: "Whatever is decided will be on the basis of the best interests of the boy himself."

Neighbours, who saw the boy arrive home alone from the airport, alerted the authorities.

No charges

Police have released the woman without charges but are expected to continue questioning her later on Tuesday.

The case came to light as the mother of a second "home alone" boy was admitted to hospital for psychiatric assessment.

The 53-year-old woman, who had not been seen since she left their house in Battersea, south London, on 7 December, is thought to have spent some of the time skiing in Austria.

Her son, aged 12, looked after himself for almost two weeks until one of her colleagues became concerned and contacted the police.

The Derbyshire woman was interviewed by police in Buxton.

She flew out with her husband and youngest son on 17 December, leaving behind the 11-year-old when he was not allowed on the plane.

It's not against the law to leave a child alone in England - there's no age limit

Michelle Elliot - Kidscape

Derbyshire Police confirmed they had managed to contact the mother while she was away.

Her son had spent one night at a neighbour's house before being taken into the care of Social Services.

He was made the subject of an interim care order on 20 December and is being looked after by foster parents.

'No age limit'

Katherine Grieve, a solicitor, told the BBC there was no specific law preventing children from being left alone.

She said: "The main question is what effect it has on the child being left alone."

Michelle Elliot director of children's charity Kidscape said: "It's not against the law to leave a child alone in England - there's no age limit.

"You can however be prosecuted if harm comes to any child that you have left alone."