Yvonne Ridley's family are tonight preparing for a huge celebration as the journalist was driven to freedom.

The Taliban hostage was seen crossing the border into Pakistan after being released from Kabul.

Miss Ridley, 43, was expected to return directly to Britain to be reunited with her family, including daughter Daisy, nine.

Her older sister Vivienne Brown, a florist, was preparing to fly to Pakistan to join diplomats.

She said tonight: "It is really great, it is fab news, just wonderful.

"The reports are unconfirmed at the moment but it appears as though she really is free.

"I was due to fly to Pakistan to help win her freedom but it doesn't look as though I need to go now.

"I will wait here for her to return, probably with the rest of the family.

"I won't organise the party for her - she can do that herself when she gets back.

"This development is such a shock, it happened so quickly and came out of the blue.

"We were obviously very worried indeed when the bombing started on Sunday night.

"But if she really is free as the reports say it is just fantastic and we can't wait to have her back."

The news of her release came less than an hour after Miss Ridley's mother Joyce slammed the government for launching an attack just as she was on the verge of freedom.

Joyce Ridley, 74, had said: "I want our government to get her back and keep their promise. I have no idea whether the Taliban will keep her safe but the Taliban kept their promise to free her and our Government didn't keep their promise to get her back."

Within minutes reports from Afghanistan stated Ridley was being driven under escort to the Pakistan border.