Vigil for kidnapped British man

Peter Moore is one of five men being held hostage

Friends of a British man kidnapped in Iraq 18 months ago have held a vigil for him in London.

Peter Moore, 32, an IT consultant from Lincoln, was taken hostage in Baghdad in May 2007 along with four other men who were working as his bodyguards.

The vigil was held at St Bride's Church in London on Friday evening.

Mr Moore's family in Lincoln said they are still very concerned for his welfare as they prepare to spend a second Christmas without him.

None of the five men have been officially identified, the Foreign Office said.

They were snatched at the Finance Ministry in Baghdad in broad daylight by around 40 men dressed as Iraqi police officers.

'Delicate situation'

Mr Moore's stepmother Pauline Sweeney said: "It is a particularly bad time because obviously you do think more about people at this time of year."

She said a lot of work is being done behind the scenes to free him but added: "It is a very delicate situation … we don't exchange prisoners which is what they want, so everything is being done that can be done."

Candles are kept lit at Lincoln Cathedral to mark his plight, she said.

The Foreign Office spokesman said they are working hard to secure the release all hostages taken in Iraq.

"We continue to do everything we can to secure the release of the hostages and our sympathy is with their families."

The spokesman said the government is calling on anyone holding British hostages to release them immediately so they can be reunited with their families.