Tilly Annis is back home in Burbage after a tug-of-love conflict between her mother and French father.

In a shock development at the High Court in London, Dominique Volant, Tilly's natural father, dropped his custody claim against his former wife, Sarah, who has now reverted to her maiden name.

Tilly, who had been placed with foster parents by Westminster City Council while the case was heard, is now reported to be back home.

The four-year-old was removed by police on November 15 after they received a High Court order. A complaint about the handling of the case has been sent to Chief Constable Elizabeth Neville by Tilly's grandparents, Eric and Pam Annis of Pewsey.

They received an acknowledgement, saying the complaint has been passed to Superintendent Andy Tatam, commander of Salisbury Division.

Richard Sharp, of Swindon-based solicitors Thring and Townsend, confirmed their client Mr Volant had withdrawn his case but refused to give any further details. He said: "As a result of the father's decision, the English court is not being asked to enforce French orders."

Tilly's grandfather Eric Annis said: "This is a very big step forward but it is not the end of the story. The child and her mother are both living free but there is a lot of tidying up to be done.

"We have suffered very severely over the last three and a half years but life has been particularly turbulent in the last three weeks. We cannot afford to be triumphant because any- thing can still happen.

"Thank God we have got our child back. What we have gone through since she was taken from us I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy."

Both grandparents are very bitter about the ordeal they have been put through but were not willing to go into criminal allegations against Mr Volant, which they feel were behind his sudden change of attitude.

Pam Annis said: "Tilly is still very traumatised by what she has been put through. I hope she will get over it but she is very young and impressionable. I am so angry about the way this has been dealt with by all concerned"

Earlier this year Sarah Annis went into hiding with Tilly after the Family Division of the High Court in London recognised a French court order giving custody of the girl to the father.

Despite the court issuing a seek-and-find order, police and court officials were unable to find the pair, but Ms Annis came out of hiding two weeks ago and told police she would appear at the High Court when necessary.

The next the family knew was when four police officers called at Ms Annis's home in Burbage at 8pm two weeks ago. Despite three hours of negotiation, with the family tearfully pleading that Tilly should not be disturbed at that hour of night, the little girl was removed.