THE father of student hostage Paul Wells was today returning to Blackburn following a disastrous search for clues about his missing son.

Speaking from a Srinagar hotel shortly before his departure, Mr Wells said he felt badly let down by officials in each of the countries he has visited with other members of the Hostages In Kashmir Campaign.

Mr Wells, of Bracken Close, Feniscowles, Blackburn, had hoped to follow up promises of help in finding Paul made to him during his previous trips to the Indian sub-continent.

But he said: "People told us that they would do things and they have not. I now want to get back home as quickly as possible."

Mr Wells and Julie Mangan, wife of the Middlesbrough man Keith Mangan who was captured with Paul in July 1995, were the only remaining members of the campaign team in the summer capital of the Indian state of Jammu Kashmir.

They had intended to travel home on Monday but now hope to get home more quickly by travelling a less direct route where flights are immediately available.

Mr Wells added: "A lot of effort has gone into organising this. We have done far more travelling than on previous visits and absolutely nothing has come of it.

"We feel quite fed up."

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