ON THE 500th day since Blackburn student Paul Wells was kidnapped in Kashmir, his mother has revealed how former Beirut hostage, Terry Waite, has inspired the family with his simple message: "Don't give up."

Dianne Wells told The Citizen that Mr Waite has given her fresh hope that she may one day be reunited with her son.

Mrs Wells travelled to London on Thursday (November 14) to meet Mr Waite and fellow former hostage, John McCarthy, for the launch of the Hostages in Kashmir campaign, organised by the hostages' friends and families.

It is 500 days since 25-year-old student Paul was seized by Al Faran separatists while trekking in the Kashmir Valley with four other Europeans in July 1995.

In Blackburn the day was marked by the release from the town hall steps of 500 white balloons - a symbol of freedom - by the Mayor, Coun. Mary Leaver.

Mrs Wells, staying composed despite mounting speculation that her son may be dead, said: "Terry Waite was trying to give us encouragement, saying not to give up hope. He gave us lots of advice on what my husband Bob should look out for on a recent fact-finding mission to Kashmir.

"Terry and John (McCarthy) can help me to understand what Paul is going through."

Foreign office minister Liam Fox warned earlier this week of the increasing likelihood that the Kashmiri hostages were dead and said: "The longer it goes on the less optimistic we become."

Paul's father Bob has just returned from a trip to India, Kashmir and Pakistan to search for clues about his missing son.

Accompanied by Paul's girlfriend Cath Moseley and other relatives of the hostages, the group's trip was documented by a film crew and the programme screened this week.

The programme, called The Big Story, claimed Paul was killed last December, but Mrs Wells refuses to accept rumours.

She said: "I've learned not to pay attention to speculation. As far as I'm concerned, no news is good news.

"What we want is solid information. Bob is convinced, however, that all the diplomats involved are doing their very best to help us. I'm sure the campaign will help publicise Paul's plight," added Mrs Wells. "We need national support to give our son the best chance of freedom. I don't want to be without him for another 500 seconds."

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