French Brothers 'Forced To Live In Cellar For Three Years'

Two brothers have been rescued after being forced to live in a cellar sleeping amongst piles of rubbish for up to three years.

French press reports the boys, aged 10 and 12, were found after the elder brother escaped and raised the alarm.

Police then raided the building in Seine-Saint-Denis near Paris, reports bfmtv.com.

French newspaper, Le Parisien, reported the boys father also beat them with a belt. He has been charged with abuse of a minor along with the boy's step mother.

Both boys have been taken into care pending the results of a full investigation.