LITTLE Tilly Annis is back with her mum and the rest of her family after being taken from her Burbage home by police in a tug-of-love conflict between her mother and her French father.

At the High Court in London on Monday, 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 in Burbage.

Mrs Annis was unavailable for comment as the Gazette went to press.

The four-year-old was taken by police officers on the evening of November 15 after a High Court order had been issued.

Richard Sharp, of Swindon-based solicitors Thring and Townsend, confirmed their M Volant had withdrawn his case but refused to give any further details.

He said: "As a result of the father's decision, an English court is not being asked to enforce the French order."

Tilly's grandfather, Eric Annis, of Pewsey, said: "This is a very big step forward but it is not the end of the story.

"The child and her mother are both free to live together but there is a lot of tidying up to be done.

He said: "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 anything 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."

The grandparents are very bitter about the ordeal they have been put through but were not willing to discuss M Volant's 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.

"Where was the necessity to take her away in the middle of the night? Could this not have waited until the morning?"

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.

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.

Mrs Annis said: "Two of the officers were very heavy and got quite unpleasant, but they left.

"The other two officers were very reluctant to serve the order but they obviously had no choice in the matter."

But a week after Tilly was handed over to her father, came the news that could not have been expected. Dominique Volant had dropped the case and was returning to France.

The family's relief is tempered by the fact this may not be the end of the matter.

"It will continue to hang over us.

"I can't believe three years of hell just ends like this," said Mr Annis.