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A message of hope from Morocco
SCHOOLGIRLS Carene and Shelby Crofts look to be on their way home.
The girls, 12 and 11, have been 1,400 miles away in Morocco for almost three months after allegedly being abducted by their mum Trudy Crofts.
They were left with Ms Crofts' new husband's family.
Rita Astbury, the girl's grandmother and their legal guardian for seven years, has been campaigning for them to be returned.
The situation appeared to have stalled on Wednesday after Ms Crofts was jailed for 12 months for contempt of court for refusing to sign a letter instructing the Moroccan family to return Carene and Shelby.
But in a shock development a man claiming to be a friend of Ms Crofts' husband, Abdullah Zroiai, phoned The Gazette to reveal the family were willing to return the girls.
In a statement released through Blackpool man Halim Bouhassi, Mr Zroiai said: "After much soul searching I have decided I can no longer be responsible for Carene and Shelby's continued absence from their home in Blackpool, their education and their friends.
"I did what I did out of loyalty and respect to their mother, Trudy, and at all times the girls have been properly cared for.
"However, the time has come for their return to England.
"I hope this will result in a happy ending for all involved and hope Rita can re-build a relationship with her daughter and granddaughters without intervention from the courts and can look forward to spending Christmas together as a family."
Following calls by The Gazette to alert Blackpool Police and Ms Astbury's solicitor, the wheels were set in motion.
The Foreign Office and the British and Moroccan Embassys were contacted.
Detectives later said they had confirmed the family in Morocco were willing to hand back Collegiate High pupil Carene and Devonshire Primary pupil Shelby.
A flight leaves Fez Airport for Britain tomorrow.
But the authorities need to establish the Moroccan family can transport the girls to the airport.
If not it may take until next week to get them on another flight.
Det Con Simon Pritchard, from Blackpool CID, said: "We hope that if they can get there they could be coming back tomorrow."
A delighted Ms Astbury said: "I am praying this does happen. I will keep my fingers crossed."
Ms Astbury's delight at fresh hope was tinged with sadness as her brother Freddie, a victim of the drug Thalidomide, remains in a critical condition in hospital after being taken ill last week.
She said his prognosis was not good.
In addition to his statement, Mr Bouhassi said he hoped Mr Zroiai, who is currently in Spain, would face no action from the police.
He also said Mr Zroiai hoped the courts would also look favourably at overturning Ms Crofts' contempt of court conviction if the girls were returned.
Carene and Shelby were allegedly abducted from their home by Ms Crofts, 30, in August after she lost a third court battle to win back custody of the girls.
She is now facing a trial on two counts of child abduction.
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Weather for Blackpool
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
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Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: West
