KIND-hearted Bolton shop staff have dug deep to boost the campaign to free British hostages held captive in Kashmir for 16 months.

Bob Wells, the father of captive Paul, is the mens' suits manager at Bolton's Whitakers store.

And as Mr Wells returned this week from a harrowing journey to bandit-run Kashmir searching for traces of the hostages, his colleagues presented him with a large cheque for the campaign fund.

Mr Wells said: "It was a complete surprise and an absolutely wonderful gesture. They had been holding various fund-raising events while I was away."

Mr Wells, who works for the Baird Menswear concession at the Deansgate department store, said: "It is a great gesture of support from my colleagues. Everyone has been so understanding and this presentation is a great lift." Whitakers staff raised £500 which will be paid into the Hostages in Kashmir Appeal fund and channelled into efforts to run a high profile campaign calling for the release of all the British hostages.

The campaign will be officially launched at the House of Commons next Thursday, 25-year-old Paul's 500th day in captivity.

An ITV documentary profiling Mr Wells' search for his son in Kashmir will be shown on the same day.

Mr Wells, of Bracken Close, Blackburn, said: "If they are alive we want to know that. If they are not alive, we need to know that so we can get on with our lives.

"We have left instructions, particularly on the Pakistani side, that government ministers, army and militants should issue appeals on our behalf and continue to issue these appeals.

"We will return to ensure this happens, possibly as early as next spring."

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