Hostage prepares for journey home

Mark Henderson is craving red wine and slices of pizza

Released British hostage Mark Henderson is preparing to fly home in time for Christmas with his family.

The TV producer will leave Bogota early on Christmas Eve to fly to Heathrow, his family said.

Mr Henderson has been having medical tests at the British Embassy in Bogota and was said to be in "good shape" after 102 days in the Colombian jungle.

He and four Israelis also captured during a jungle trek were freed by rebels of the left-wing ELN on Monday.

Red wine

Mr Henderson's mother, Sharelle, said the family were preparing to receive the "best gift" they could dream of - his Christmas homecoming.

The 32-year-old is reportedly craving some home comforts after celebrating his freedom with cheese and Coca Cola on Monday night.

We're going to cook a traditional Christmas dinner but apparently a nice pizza and glass of red wine will go down well Sharelle Henderson

Speaking from their home in Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire, Mrs Henderson said: "We're going to cook a traditional Christmas dinner but apparently a nice pizza and glass of red wine will go down well."

Mr Henderson said the beauty of the mountains was one of the reasons he was mentally able to survive his three-month captivity, but he was happy to see the back of them.

"I've seen enough of these mountains," he said. "I don't want to see any more of these mountains."

Mr Henderson was among eight tourists held by the National Liberation Army (ELN) on 12 September, during a trek through the 2,500-year-old Ciudad Perdida (Lost City) Indian ruins.

Radio plan

The hostages' release came after mediation by Catholic church negotiators working as part of a human rights commission.

The rebels said they had kidnapped the men to publicise the persecution of Indian villagers by rightwing paramilitaries, and not for a ransom.

Negotiations became possible when a recently imprisoned rebel was given a two-way radio in his prison cell and was able to contact the head of the ELN.

At one stage a senior government minister was in contact with the chief rebel, something that BBC correspondent Robert Nisbet said would be extremely significant for other hostages held in the troubled South American country.

The ELN and other rebel groups are holding hundreds of Colombian hostages at any given time.

Fellow hostage Matthew Scott, 19, from London, who escaped the rebels shortly after their capture says he hopes to meet Mr Henderson at Heathrow.