FREED Beirut hostage Terry Waite today urged the people of East Lancashire to light a special candle for student Paul Wells this Christmas.

And in a festive plea to the terrorists, the ex-Archbishop of Canterbury's Middle Eastern envoy said Paul's family should not give up hope.

The message came as it was revealed that Home Secretary Michael Howard is to make a New Year bid to secure the freedom of Blackburn student Paul Wells, currently held by a murderous Kashmiri separatists group.

Mr Waite - who has spoken to Paul's mum Dianne at home in Bracken Close, Feniscowles, Blackburn - on a number of occasions, added: "Christmas is a time of joy for many - it can also be a time of sadness."

"Those of us who are fortunate to be surrounded by family and friends this year might stop for a moment and remember those for whom Christmas will bring painful memories.

"Paul Wells is a hostage. His family are also hostages to uncertainty. This Christmas they will wait, as they have waited so long, for news of Paul and for his release.

"If you light candles this Christmas you might light a special one for Paul and his family. The light will be a reminder that all our lives are fragile.

"It will also remind us that we should never give up hope even though some days are very hard to bear."

Home Secretary Mr Howard flies out to India and Pakistan a week today.

While there he will meet senior officials from the Indian and Pakistani governments to raise the plight of Mr Wells and fellow British hostage Keith Mangan, from Middlesbrough as well as the hostages from Germany and the United States.

The group have now been held by the Al-Faran Kashmiri separatists in the disputed Indian region of Jammu Kashmir for more than five months. The gang holding the four has become increasingly isolated from mainstream Kashmiri nationalists groups but so far pressure from the Pakistani governments and attempts to surround the gang and recapture the hostages by the Indians have failed.

A Home Office source said: "Mr Howard has been fully apprised of the hostage situation by the Foreign Office. It is an issue that will come up.

"His representations will be on top of continuing pressure from the Foreign Office to secure their release."

Already a fifth hostage from Norway has been beheaded by the Kashmiri separatists' captors.

Today Paul's mum Dianne, said every little bit of support to Paul's plight mattered.

She said: "He is adding his voice and that must help."

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