FOREIGN Secretary Jack Straw celebrated the world-breaking news of Saddam Hussein's capture in true British style - by making a cup of tea.

The Blackburn MP revealed that he had been wakened by a telephone call at around 8am on Sunday giving him the news.

But he warned that he did not expect Saddam to provide any worthwhile information about his activities or weapons of mass destruction.

He said he was opposed to him facing the death penalty but admitted that Britain might be unable to prevent capital punishment for the former Iraqi dictator.

Mr Straw said the UK opposed capital punishment but two separate Downing Street sources said Tony Blair was prepared to see Saddam put to death by an Iraqi court.

Mr Straw was enjoying a lie-in after the weekend's collapsed Euro Summit when he was given the "best news of the year."

So in true British fashion the Foreign Secretary celebrated his early Christmas present by brewing a pot of tea.

And he provided his wife Alice with her own cup of cheer to mark the occasion.

Mr Straw said: "I was asleep when I was phoned by my Duty Private Secretary to tell me the news.

"I told my wife when she woke up. I was very pleased, not to say delighted, to have good news and for it to be on a non-EU subject.

"I didn't leap for joy. I got out of bed and made a cup of tea.

"I don't only celebrate with tea. It depends on the occasion.

"Sometimes I have a glass of champagne but that would not have been appropriate on this occasion.

"It was early in the morning and tea seemed much the best thing.

"I am a great fan of tea and I think that the idea of drinking tea at crucial points in life comes from my family.

"It was one of the best cups of tea I have ever had!"

"The capture of Saddam is probably the most important positive move in Iraq since the final fall of Saddam in mid-April.

"I think that it means we now have a real opportunity for reconciliation and for building a free Iraq."