THE parents of captured journalist Yvonne Ridley were given a ray of hope last night when they were told they could send their daughter a letter and aid parcel.

Joyce and Allan Ridley have also been told the Taliban has yet to charge their daughter, who is under arrest in Afghanistan.

Yvonne was detained by the Taliban when she crossed the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan last week.

Speaking from the family home in West Pelton, County Durham, Mrs Ridley said: "It will do wonders for her morale to get a letter from us.

"I think she will be pretty low by now, with her being there for a week - in a foreign country with foreign people and not able to speak their language."

Mrs Ridley added: "I have drawn up a shopping list including lipstick, mascara and cigarettes.

"As much as I would like to include it on the list, I don't think they will let her have a radio or hairdryer.

"But I have included perfume. While it won't be of any practical use, it will make her feel better."

The letter Mr and Mrs Ridley are sending to Yvonne, giving her news of her daughter Daisy, is printed here.

Ms Ridley, a reporter with the Sunday Express who formerly worked for The Northern Echo, was arrested last Friday when she was discovered inside the country reportedly wearing local dress and without papers.

A spokesman for Northern & Shell, the publishers of Express Newspapers, said progress had been made during a meeting between editorial director Paul Ashford and a Taliban representative in Islamabad.

A further meeting is to be scheduled for early next week when Ms Ridley's credentials will be handed over.

Last night, the Taliban claimed it suspected that Britain and the US had special forces disguised as journalists in the north of Afghanistan.

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