Islamabad - A five-year-old boy from the UK who was kidnapped in Pakistan last week has not been released, authorities in Pakistan have told the Foreign Office.

The Foreign Office said it had received confirmation Pakistani police were still investigating his disappearance.

The boy was seized by an armed gang in Punjab while staying with relatives.

A Punjab minister had been reported as saying the boy had been found and handed over to his father.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We have confirmation from the Pakistani authorities that Sahil has not been released. Police in Pakistan are still investigating.

Sahil had been taken from his grandmother's home in Jhelum, Punjab, as he prepared to take a taxi to the airport for his flight to the UK.

The attackers are said to have demanded a £100,000 ransom for his return.

Pakistani community groups in Oldham have said they are considering setting up a fund to pay ransoms in the event of kidnaps.

The UK government has a policy of not paying ransoms and advises third parties against doing so, arguing that this would encourage future kidnappings.