The father of Great Baddow kidnap victim Paul Winder spoke on Wednesday of his absolute delight that his son had been released by Colombian guerillas -- and was on his way home for Christmas.

Paul, 29, and Tom Hart Dyke, 24, of Eynsford, Kent, were kidnapped nine months ago.

They had spent eight days to walking through a jungle before flagging down a park ranger, and were expected at Gatwick Airport around 1pm yesterday.

Paul's father, 64-year-old IT accountant Brian Winder, said: "This is a wonderful Christmas surprise -- a great blessing. I don't know whether he was released because of the time of year.

"He is being treated for a sore foot but is very well."

Paul and Tom, searching for rare orchids, were in the infamous Darien Gap area on the Panama/Colombia border when they were kidnapped.

Their families had employed a private detective in Colombia to help find them.

"No one could go in to get them. It was too dangerous," said Mr Winder, who has spoken twice to his son -- the first time on Monday around 10.30pm.

After the two were set free, they became lost and had to return to the guerillas to ask for a map.

Mr Winder said: "They must have been given food. They were eventually moved out by the Red Cross."

He and his wife, Anne, had been told by authorities that they had only a five per cent chance of seeing Paul alive again.

Johnny Welsh, British Embassy spokesman in Bogota, said: "They are both incredibly relieved and looking forward to getting back to see their families.

"It must have been a real ordeal, a great mental strain for them."

During a brief press conference at the British ambassador's residence in Bogota, Paul said: "On March 16, we were detained by an armed group while walking between Panama and Colombia.

"We were never told who was holding us. They held us against our will until December 10, when they told us we were free to go."

Asked what he was most looking forward to, Paul said: "Family, just family."

Christmas Cheer: Brian and Anne Winder

Picture by ROB BROWNE

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.