Reporter tells of Taleban capture

Yvonne Ridley's mother endured the agony of her daughter's capture

British journalist Yvonne Ridley - who was released by the Taleban on Monday - has been speaking about her 10 days in captivity.

Ms Ridley, 43, who was seized near the north eastern city of Jalalabad, said she had wanted to go to Afghanistan to see how ordinary people were coping.

She explained that she was caught after her camera was spotted when her donkey tried to bolt, a short way from the border with Pakistan.

Ms Ridley said she would take the same risks again

"A Taleban soldier shouted at me and pulled me off the donkey," she said.

"A huge crowd gathered very quickly. I was then bundled in a car."

Ms Ridley said conditions were acceptable - although she was refused access to a telephone.

She rejected criticism that what she had done was a stunt, and said she wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

"War correspondents take risks all the time. This was a very calculated risk.

"I had been successful for two days and it was just the last twenty minutes on the border when unfortunately things conspired against me."

The Sunday Express journalist flew into Heathrow Airport on Wednesday evening two days after her release by the Taleban.

Ms Ridley, who returned on an Emirates Airlines flight from Dubai, has been reunited with her nine-year-old daughter Daisy.