The uncle of one of the five British hostages in Iraq today told the Express & Star how he feared the worst when police informed his family that two bodies had been found.

Alec Moore, of Wesley Road, Codsall, said he felt no relief when he found out that his 35-year-old nephew, Peter Moore, was not one of them.

The bodies of security men Jason Creswell and Jason Swindlehurst were handed to British officials in Baghdad on Friday. They had been held hostage by the Shi’ite Islamic Resistance since May 29, 2007, after being kidnapped in the Iraqi capital.

Mr Moore, aged 61, said today: “The police called my brother Graeme, Peter’s father, and told him to stay where he was as they wanted to see him because they had found two bodies.

“We all thought it was Peter at first but there was no feeling of relief when we found out it wasn’t him. There was no celebration, no feelings at all really,” said the retired civil servant.

“Our sympathies are now with those two families. They now know for definite that they will never see their fathers, sons, husbands and brothers again.”

Mr Moore was working for a technology consultancy company in Baghdad when he was seized along with his four bodyguards by a 40-strong armed gang. “Now we just have to carry on waiting,” his uncle said. “I try and live life as normally as possible – I go to the gym, work in the garden or watch cricket, but it’s always there in the back of my mind.”

Mr Moore added: “Graeme is really shocked by the news of the deaths. We all are. It doesn’t make it any easier for us.”

Peter’s father Graeme, aged 59, has described the wait for news as “torture”.

Videos of the captives have been released, the most recent of which was seen in March this year and appeared to show Peter in good health.

Family and friends have set up a website where messages of support can be left at www.4pete.org.