The family of kidnapped toddler Daniel Grimshaw were today enjoying their first private moments with the youngster since he was handed in to a Bradford police station.

Elated mum Amy Grimshaw, 18, and relatives who supported her through the two-month ordeal, left their homes in Bradford to escape the media glare surrounding them.

They chose to enjoy their first full day with Daniel away from the city after spending much of yesterday at a press conference and conducting numerous interviews.

Amy, of Thornacre Road, Wrose, was sprayed in the face with chemicals before her son was snatched from his pushchair and bundled into a waiting car. After the kidnapping, near her home on November 9, she made several emotional appeals for the youngster's safe return.

At around midnight on Thursday, an anonymous phone call to Asian community leader Fazal Hussain MBE told him to go to Great Horton Road where Daniel was found alone.

Amy and Daniel were reunited shortly afterwards at Eccleshill Police station, a moment she later described as "the best feeling in the world".

Chief Superintendent Stuart Hyde, who led the hunt for Daniel, said: "Amy, Daniel and other members of the family have gone away for a couple of days so that they can start rebuilding their relationship in peace. Obviously, the whole thing has been a huge ordeal for them. It is extremely pleasing that Daniel is back. I am pleased for Amy and I am pleased for the community.

"The operation involved a lot of very hard work from officers and the community."

The investigation, which featured on BBC TV's Crimewatch programme, had helped build bridges between Bradford police and the city's Asian community, said Chief Supt Hyde.

"There was a great deal of trust involved and this is something we hope to build on in the future. Things such as this, coupled with the Kashmir police visit can only serve to strengthen the relationship," he added.

He said active community projects involving the police and Asian communities were a "long term investment" and proved to be a central factor in ensuring Daniel's safe return.

Chief Supt Hyde said it was still unclear exactly where Daniel had been kept but added he had spent some time in the Nottingham area.

Murzah Mahmood, the child's estranged father who was being sought by police, is thought to be in Pakistan. He is not thought to have made contact with Daniel although Chief Supt Hyde said: "If he turned up here I would certainly like to speak to him."

l Six men accused of kidnapping Daniel have been remanded in custody for a further month by the city's magistrates. The six, including Daniel's uncle Mohammed Arshad, are to appear in court again on February 25 when an all-day committal hearing has been fixed.

In court were: Arshad, 29, of Killinghall Road, Bradford Moor, Bradford; Khalid Mahmood Khan, 26, whose address cannot be disclosed for legal reasons; Christopher Kellett, 26, of Swain House Crescent, Swain House, Bradford; Denis Hunter, 39, of Raynor House, Bradford; Lloyd Ruddock, 35, of Parkside Road, West Bowling, Bradford; and Barrington Depass, 18, of Westfield Crescent, Shipley.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.