A grammar school boy missing for two months after telling his parents he was bored with his life has been found safe and well.

Arthur Heeler-Frood, 15, who sparked a nationwide hunt, was apparently making his way home when he was recognised on a train and intercepted by the police.

Arthur’s frantic parents, Caroline and Jeremy Heeler-Frood, had wondered if he had sneaked abroad, possibly inspired by George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London, which he had just been reading.

Speaking to the Guardian on Tuesday night, Caroline Heeler-Frood confirmed he was back at home in rural Devon. She said he had not been abroad but said she wanted to have a proper talk to him before she revealed more.

The boy’s mother said: “He is safe and well. We’ve just got home with him and want a little bit of time to talk to him.”

Arthur’s mother said he was on a train in the Exeter area when he was spotted by a member of the public, who tipped off the police.

The teenager was met off the train at Honiton, nine miles from his home, by officers and taken to a police station. “He was recognised on a train. He was coming home,” said Ms Heeler-Frood. “The police picked him up at Honiton. He is fine and well.”

A police spokesperson said: “Arthur Heeler-Frood has been found safe and well in Honiton today. The 15-year-old was located by officers at Honiton train station after being alerted by a member of the public shortly after 4.30pm.

“He went missing after leaving his family home on the morning of Tuesday 6 September and failed to turn up at school. Officers would like to thank the member of the public who called in and also thank everyone who has assisted with the appeal to find Arthur over the last two months.”

Ms Heeler-Frood also declined to say if he had changed his appearance, which was suspected as hair clippers went missing with him.

When he disappeared, Arthur left his parents a letter explaining that he was bored with his life, asking them not to try to find him and promising to be back within the year.

Police forces across the country had been asked to look out for Arthur and postal workers have also joined the search for him. The job of finding Arthur was challenging partly because he left without a phone or any electronic equipment. He had just £350 earned from a job washing up in a kitchen restaurant – which is exactly what Orwell did in Paris. However, he had no passport.

Speaking last week to the Guardian, Ms Heeler-Frood said Arthur was an idealistic boy who liked the idea of adventure and may have been inspired by his older siblings, who had both travelled around Europe.

But she said he had grown up in the country and was not streetwise. “He was bright and had a strong interest in current affairs and politics,” she said.

“He was adventurous. He enjoyed all the Bear Grylls survival challenge programmes. For the last two summers his brother, Reuben has hitchhiked across Europe. He travelled extensively into eastern Europe. His sister, Hester, went InterRailing. I think he was inspired by all that.

“We think that he felt he wanted his own adventure. Hester was leaving for university and he was going to be the last one at home with us. I think he wasn’t looking forward to being left alone with us. I think he wanted to test himself, prove his abilities.”

Ms Heeler-Frood said Arthur was an avid reader. “The book he was reading before he left was Down and Out in Paris and London. You wonder if that had been an influence. He was reading on a Kindle, which he left behind.”

The 15-year-old had not been seen since he left for Colyton Grammar school on his bicycle at 7.30am on Tuesday 6 September. His last words to his mother were: “Don’t worry, I’ve got my fluorescent.”

His custom was to leave his bike at a local post office and get the bus from there to school. When he did not return home, his mother went to the post office but could find no sign of the bike.

Next day a letter arrived in the post. It said: “To mum and dad I have run away because I am bored of my life. Please do not try to find me or make me come home.

“I don’t know how long I will be away for but it won’t be longer than a year. You will find my school uniform in a bin bag in a small barn in the field on the green down the road near Membury church.

“My bike is chained to the fence .... Please apologise to the restaurant and tell them that I will no longer be able to work there. I know you will be upset but please understand that I have to do this, from Arthur.” The letter had been posted in Devon.

Arthur had just received outstanding GCSE grades and started his A-levels the previous day at Colyton Grammar in Devon, one of Britain’s most highly-rated state schools.