Alan Henning friend: 'He was excited about being in Syria again'

It is nine months since the Manchester taxi-driver Alan Henning was kidnapped as he delivered humanitarian aid to refugees in Syria and just over a week since militants from the group calling itself Islamic State, also known as ISIS, threatened to kill him.

On Sunday, his wife pleaded with his captors to free her "peaceful, selfless" husband - it followed a message from two high-profile Imams in the UK, also calling for his release.

Doctor Shameela Islam-Zulfiqar travelled with Alan Henning on his last convoy and knew him well. She said he actively wanted to do something practical and was excited about being able to deliver aid to Syrians in need.