Alan Henning's wife in direct appeal for his release

In her first interview with the BBC, the wife of the British hostage Alan Henning has called on the Islamic extremists threatening to kill him to spare his life and let him go.

Mr Henning, a taxi driver from Salford, has been held by the militant group Islamic State since he was captured delivering aid in Syria last December.

Barbara Henning said the international outcry at her husband's imprisonment gave her hope.

Ed Thomas reports.