Kidnapped girl, 15, found in car boot

A 15-year-old girl kidnapped from a French village 10 days ago has been found alive in the boot of a car in Germany, officials said yesterday.

Chloé Rodriguez of Barjac, Gard, had been on her way to visit a friend by scooter when she was reported missing on 9 November. Her scooter was recovered with the helmet and mobile phone missing.

The discovery sparked a national manhunt that was called off on Friday after German police stopped a car close to the border near Offenburg. The car's driver was arrested.

Chloé had apparently memorised details about her kidnapper, his car and its number plate, but obeyed his orders throughout her ordeal fearing she would be killed, according to the French media.

Her parents said their daughter was in good health despite being exhausted and regularly crying. Chloé's alleged kidnapper was being held in a German prison. The 32-year-old man is understood to have been released from prison in September after being convicted of physical and sexual assault in 2009 against six women, who had been traveling alone.

Violette Rodriguez, Chloé's mother, said: "There will be two birthdays for my little Chloé. This man who did her so much harm – there is justice. But I thank him anyway, because he kept her alive"