French court rules Megan teacher can be extradited

Arrangements were being made last night for the return of teacher Jeremy Forrest to Britain to face questioning for alleged child abduction after a French court agreed his extradition.

Mr Forrest, 30, was arrested last week after a highly publicised search. A European Arrest Warrant was issued after he travelled by ferry to France with a 15-year-old pupil, Megan Stammers. The pair, who left Dover on 20 September, were spotted in Bordeaux, where Mr Forrest, a maths teacher, had reportedly been seeking jobs using a false name at bars.

Mr Forrest, from Ringmer, East Sussex, did not appear at the Bordeaux court yesterday and was represented by his lawyer Daniel Lalanne who said that he could return "at any moment".

"Jeremy Forrest will be handed over to the British authorities with his agreement," he said.

It is not clear when he will return or to which airport.

Megan Stammers was flown back to Britain and reunited with her family at the weekend.