A former Ilkley man embroiled in the 14-month hostage saga involving Jon James and Camilla Carr today spoke of his joy at their release.

Chris Hunter, a former Ilkley Grammar School pupil, is the boss of the aid organisation for which Camilla and Jon were working when they were seized in Chechnya.

Mr Hunter, 29, who revealed he had been the subject of a failed kidnap bid, said he had gone through "hell" during the couple's captivity, adding that he had worked tirelessly for their release.

Mr Hunter, who left his home in Burley-in-Wharfedale four years ago to work in Moscow, said: "The last 14-and-a-half months have absolutely been very stressful trying to get them released and always at the back of your mind wondering what was happening to them.

"It is absolutely wonderful to have them back. I have spent time with them at Brize Norton trying to put the two sides together - what they were doing, and what we were doing to get them out."

The release of Camilla and Jon, who flew into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire for a debriefing after their release last week, made world-wide news. It was later revealed that Camilla had been repeatedly raped and both had suffered beatings, threats and mock executions.

Mr Hunter, whose mother lives in Addingham, also spoke of his role in keeping open the children's centre which was being run by Mr James and Ms Carr when they were kidnapped.

Mr Hunter initially went to Moscow to work for the Quakers but now runs the Moscow-based Centre for Peacemaking and Community Development which runs various aid projects in war-torn Chechnya. Camilla and Jon ran the charity's Little Star centre for traumatised children in Grozny which had remained open during the conflict.

Mr Hunter revealed that last year he was the subject of an attempted abduction in Grozny but his driver managed to evade four cars which pursued them.

He has now returned to Moscow to continue his work for the charity.

Chechnya is in a state of anarchy following two years of war with Russia and the kidnapping of foreigners for ransom is rife.

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