A North West Euro MP trapped by terrorists in a Mumbai hotel tonight landed home on British soil amid emotional scenes.

Sajjad Karim, 38, was staying at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel when terrorists stormed the building.

The Conservative MEP, who lives in Simonstone and grew up in Brierfield in Pendle, was among the first people to describe the unfolding horror to the media by mobile phone as he hid from the gun men in a barricaded basement room.

Tonight he was embraced warmly by family and friends who wept openly on meeting him after he landed at Manchester Airport.

Hugging his two children Bilal, eight, and Rabia, six, Mr Karim said he was delighted to be home after flying back via Paris and London.

He said: "I am delighted and very pleased to be back, and really appreciative of all the messages of goodwill I have had.

"It is great to see everybody.

"I think now I am going to take a few days to reflect and think through things.

"I need a few days to get back with my family and spend some time with everybody and just let things settle down."

Mr Karim said he would not comment or speculate on who was behind the terror attacks but wanted "to wait for the authorities to carry out a full investigation".

He had been in Mumbai as part of a deputation ahead of an EU-India summit.

Speaking about his experience, Mr Karim said: "Obviously it was a situation you can never prepare yourself for.

"It is quite a desperate situation.

"It is an ongoing and developing situation even now.

"It's simply the sort of thing you just have to get through.

"There is no other way of describing it."

Mr Karim's father, Fazal Karim, 72, said it was the 'happiest day of his life' to see his son again.

He said: "I am such a relieved man.

"The last few days have been terrible.

"Though he is home, my thoughts are now with those who are still there.

"It has been the worst experience of my life and I wonder how people can do such wicked things to others.

"It was quite unreal. It was the sort of thing you see on TV."