Shields' family await his return

Michael Shields is set to serve the rest of his sentence in the UK

The family of jailed Liverpool football fan Michael Shields are waiting to hear when he will be transferred from his Bulgarian cell to a British jail.

Shields is serving 10 years in Bulgaria for the attempted murder of a barman in May 2005. He has always denied any involvement.

After a Bulgarian court fine was paid, authorities said Shields, 20, would be back in Britain before Christmas.

He was due to return on 13 November, but the family are still waiting.

Now they say they will only know once Michael lands in Britain.

Following a high-profile fundraising campaign, his supporters managed to pay a £90,000 court fine to enable the man - from the Edge Hill area of Liverpool - to spend the remainder of his jail sentence in a British prison.

However, his father Michael Shields Snr, said the strain was proving too much.

They are keeping us on a knife edge and I think it is unnecessarily cruel Michael Shields Snr

"My health is suffering because of this waiting game," he said.

"They are keeping us on a knife edge and I think it is unnecessarily cruel.

"We've been sitting by the phone just waiting for that call to tell us he's on his way back or has landed in Britain.

"Michael's mum and sister are in Bulgaria at the moment and saw Michael this morning. They say he is very anxious about the whole affair."

Girl band Atomic Kitten are to stage a fundraising concert at Liverpool Empire on 4 December to raise funds to go towards the fine.