Freed British hostage Peter Moore was preparing to return to the UK today – as his West Midland family revealed a Foreign Office phone call left them fearing he had been executed.

Government officials called family members to tell them to “brace themselves” for a statement about Mr Moore.

His uncle Alec, who lives in Codsall, near Wolverhampton, was among those fearing the worst at lunchtime yesterday.

He said today: “Then the Express & Star rang to say he had been freed and was in good health – I could hardly believe my ears!

“It was the news we had been praying for but it had seemed increasingly less likely as time had passed.

“It had reached the stage where you did not dare to believe that he could get out alive. The worry increased when the remains of others seized with him were handed over to the British authorities.

“The feeling of relief  that he was safe and well after such a long time was overwhelming. The news had barely had time to sink in before the phone started ringing with friends and family.”

His wife Anne, a 53-year-old teacher, said: “It is fantastic.”

Computer expert Mr Moore spent the night at the British Embassy in Baghdad, where he is receiving medical attention ahead of his return home today.

He is believed to have been in solitary confinement for 31 months, since being kidnapped with four British bodyguards in Baghdad on May 29, 2007.

The bodies of Alec MacLachlan, Jason Swindlehurst and Jason Creswell were passed to British authorities earlier this year and the Foreign Office believes the fourth – Alan McMenemy – is also dead.

Speculation was mounting that Mr Moore, 36, was freed in return for the release from US custody of a leading Shi’ite insurgent.

Qais al-Khazali is a leader of the Asaib al-Haq group, which is believed to be behind the abduction of the five Britons. He was handed over to Iraqi authorities and officials said he would be set free unless evidence is found to support a prosecution.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband insists no concessions were made and that Mr Moore’s release was “completely separate”. He is also playing down reports Mr Moore had been held in Iran.