The mother of Alex Batty spent the summer living under a fake identity in a caravan in rural France, according to reports.
Manchester-born Alex, now aged 17, was found last week in France after disappearing six years ago while on holiday in Spain with his mother Melanie Batty and his grandfather David Batty.
The trio are understood to have moved around from country to country before David died six months ago.
Melanie Batty is wanted by French and British authorities in connection to her son's disappearance.
French locals have now told Sky News that the 43-year-old moved to a campsite near the southern town of Chalabre in spring 2023 where she introduced herself as Rose.
She reportedly spent the summer there in a caravan before leaving in September.
She is said to have left after learning there would be no hot water and heating there in the winter months, and after being advised by locals it would be too cold to continue living there.
A local told Sky News Ms Batty was only ever seen alone.
She was described by the source as pleasant, cheerful and polite to campsite staff and other holidaymakers, though she could not speak French.
She reportedly did not drive, but rode a bicycle and frequently had a cat with her.
She is said to have last contacted the campsite around three weeks ago to say a friend of hers would be visiting to collect her caravan. The friend did not arrive, and the caravan remains there.
French police are said to have questioned staff at the campsite.
Ms Batty and Alex's grandfather were wanted by French police over his disappearance. Her current whereabouts is not known.
Alex is said to have fled from his mother when she announced she would be travelling to Finland - where she is likely to have now arrived.
The teenager resurfaced last week. He had reportedly walked for four days and nights in the Pyrenees mountains, before he was found walking alone near Toulouse in the early hours of Wednesday.
He flew back to the UK from Toulouse on Saturday night and was set to be reunited with his grandmother in Oldham, Manchester.
Speaking publicly for the first time on Monday, Alex said “I’m glad to be here for Christmas” after he returned from a shopping trip with a relative in Greater Manchester, the MailOnline reported.
The family he had been staying with in a remote farmhouse in the French Pyrenees said Alex wanted to return to the UK to get documents so that he could study computer science at school, the newspaper has said.
Alex was described as "tired" but "in good health" after being checked over by French officials and seemed "intelligent" even though he had not attended school for six years.
