Mother's joy as UK hostage freed

Gary Teeley with Italian Army General Gianmarco Chiarini

The mother of a British man kidnapped in Iraq has spoken of her relief after his release.

Gary Teeley, 37, was held hostage for six days in the southern city of Nasiriya before he was freed on Sunday.

His mother Patricia said he had been reluctant to speak about his experiences when he called her following his release.

But Mrs Teeley told the BBC: "I'm ecstatic that he's free and that he's coming home."

It was clear that it has been very unpleasant for him Patricia Teeley

She said the family were planning a huge celebration for Mr Teeley, who missed his birthday while in captivity.

Mrs Teeley, who lives in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, said her son's sense of humour was obviously still intact because the first thing he had asked his wife after his release was how West Ham had fared over the Easter weekend.

She said when her son called her, ending days of anxiety, his first words had been: "Hello Britain, this is Iraq calling."

But he did not speak about how he came to be taken hostage or whether he was injured.

"He did not elaborate, but it was clear that it has been very unpleasant for him, and he is obviously not going to want to tell me that over the phone," said Mrs Teeley.

"I asked him if he was badly hurt, and he said, 'I am not too bad', but I think he has been hurt and he would not really tell me."

Medical checks

Mrs Teeley, 60, added: "When he comes home I will hit him for going out there in the first place but I also want to hug him and love him.

"He may be 37 but he is still my boy."

Her son had been working as a consultant for a laundry firm while in Iraq.

He was handed over to Italian troops early on Sunday and taken to a field hospital for medical checks.

Mr Teeley was reported to be safe and well, but it is unclear what his next movements would be.

We are locked in an historic struggle in Iraq Tony Blair UK Prime Minister Blair- freedom at stake in Iraq

Reports since his disappearance suggested he was kidnapped as he and a group of colleagues drove from the US airbase where they worked.

The Foreign Office could not confirm the reports.

He had been living in Qatar with his wife and son for the past three years.

Mr Teeley, who has four children from a previous marriage, was born in Greenwich, south London, and had previously lived in Cambridgeshire.

Al-Jazeera satellite channel said Mr Teeley was freed "with the help of Arab tribes in the region".

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "Obviously we are very pleased he has been released and that he is safe and well."