Runaway teens found in hotel in Dominican Republic

THE two teenagers who eloped from their British boarding school in the dead of the night a week ago have been found safe and sound in the Caribbean. Edward Bunyan and Indira Gainiyeva, both 16, did a bunk from Stonyhurst College in Lancashire, one of the UK's top public schools.

According to the British press the pair are believed to have taken a taxi to Manchester airport in the early hours of 13 January before boarding an indirect flight to the Dominican Republic.

As Bunyan and Gainiyeva – originally from Kazakhstan – became the centre of an international police hunt - reports suggested they had booked into a "luxury five-star beach resort".

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Announcing that the two youngsters had been found, a Lancashire police spokesman said the sixth formers had been staying in a hotel in the Punta Cana area of the Dominican Republic.

"Plans are now being made for their safe return to the UK," the spokesman said. "They will be given a welfare debrief by police following their arrival back in this country."

Asked by the media what action would be taken against Bunyan and Gainiyeva, he replied: "Our priority throughout this has been to ensure the safety and welfare of these students and after they have been spoken to on their return this will signal an end of police involvement."

Stonyhurst College was clearly relieved by the news its students had been found. A statement published on its website said: "We are absolutely delighted to be able to report that the two missing pupils have been found safe and well by police in the Dominican Republic. They are currently in the care of the police and a family member. Thank you to all parents and friends of Stonyhurst for your support at this time and for your prayers for their safety."