Freed journalist 'could be back in days'
Yvonne Ridley could be back in Britain later this week, her mother says.
Joyce Ridley says she spoke to Yvonne by telephone after she was released from Afghanistan.
The freed journalist is in Pakistan.
"I'm so happy and I think I'm so lucky as well in that she has had so many prayers said for her," Mrs Ridley said.
"I'm sure it is the power of prayer that has brought about this happy ending."
Mrs Ridley said she broke the news of the Sunday Express reporter's release to her nine-year-old granddaughter Daisy, who is at boarding school in the Lake District, last night.
Mrs Ridley, of West Pelton, Co Durham, said: "She screamed 'Thank you Nana, I love you, I love you, I love you Nana, I love you Granddad'."
An elated Mrs Ridley says she hopes to see her daughter as soon as she returns, within the next day or so.
She added: "We had a bottle of champagne last night. And I'm sure we will have a magnum when she comes home."
