A British hostage with family in Codsall was released today by kidnappers in Iraq after being held for more than two-and-a-half years in captivity.

Computer expert Peter Moore, 36, was seized along with four British bodyguards at the finance ministry in Baghdad on May 29, 2007.

Fears for his safety grew after the bodies of some of the security guards were handed to UK authorities.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband confirmed the news at 2.15pm today.

The Express & Star then broke the news to Peter’s uncle Alec Moore, 62, of Wesley Road, Codsall.

He said this afternoon: “This is fantastic – absolutely brilliant. I was fearing the worst.”

The bodies of security men Jason Creswell and Jason Swindlehurst were handed to British officials in Baghdad earlier in the year.

They had been held hostage by the Shi’ite Islamic Resistance since May 2007, after being kidnapped in the Iraqi capital.

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

It was reported earlier this month that Mr Moore was being held in Iran by the elite Revolutionary Guard.

Iraq MP Jamal Aldin said: “I understand from good sources he has been moved in and out of Iran.”

Mr Aldin claimed General Qassim Sulaimani, the head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps IRGC, controlled the fate of Mr Moore, who was kidnapped by Shia militiamen posing as police officers.

”General Sulaimani effectively controls the revolutionary guard in Iraq who have Mr Moore,” he said.