THE relieved father of a missing Bolton schoolboy who was reunited with his family at the weekend has thanked the BEN for helping bring the youngster home.
Mehul Patel, 14, had not been seen by relatives since he left his Deane home for school three days before.
Almost immediately after he was featured on the front page of Friday's newspaper, the youngster was spotted staying at a friend's house by a neighbour. He was recognised from the picture in the newspaper.
Today, as the teenager was settling back into family life at his home at Newstead Drive, Bolton, his father, Vasant, said: "I am really, really proud of the BEN. Its coverage brought my son home and I am very grateful to the newspaper.
"My son was staying with a friend, but is now home, safe and well, and we are all very happy."
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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