FIVE men accused of kidnapping a businessman and holding him to ransom have been cleared by a jury.

The men, who included two from Bolton, were arrested after former soldier Mark Chamberlain, aged 38, was allegedly grabbed at knifepoint in his own car then held hostage while members of a gang demanded £60,000 for his release.

Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, heard that Mr Chamberlain was freed after several hours when the kidnappers were given £3,000 cash and two cars.

Armed police later stopped one of the two cars and recovered some of the ransom money.

Marios Baama, aged 25, of Embla Walk, Bolton, Antony McNally, aged 29, of Westbourne Avenue, Bolton; Andrew Beckford, aged 22, of Fallowfield, and Ian McLeod, aged 40, of Moston, were all accused of kidnap and blackmail.

But after a trial lasting more than two weeks, they were all unanimously acquitted by jurors who took just an hour and 10 minutes to return not guilty verdicts.

A fifth man, Aaron Rouse, aged 20, of Pankhurst Walk, Rusholme, was acquitted of kidnap and blackmail on the judge's directions earlier in the trial.