AN 11-year-old boy is to spend Christmas day in foster care after his family allegedly decided to leave him home alone while they took a holiday in the Canaries.

A British mother arrested on suspicion of leaving her 12-year-old son home alone for almost two weeks was today released on police bail pending further inquiries.

A boy left home alone by his depressed mother bravely did everything he could to disguise her disappearance as he fended for himself for nearly two weeks, his headteacher said tonight.