AMID all our grave concerns this morning for Yvonne Ridley, those of us who know her will still find time for a little smile.

A smile which says that if any journalist was going to be caught up in the world's biggest crisis for half a century, then it was going to be Yvonne.

We were trainee reporters on the Durham Advertiser Series when we met in the late 1970s.

Back then, Yvonne was always prepared to go that bit extra to secure the tag "exclusive" above her by-line on the front page of the Stanley News.

In her subsequent spells on The Northern Echo, the Journal and the Sunday Sun, she was never scared to make contact with the underworld for a crime story exclusive which would beat her rivals.

Even on holiday in Cyprus she came back with a story, after badgering prison authorities to give her access to a young South Shields man who joined the PLO and was involved in the murder of three Israelis on a vessel in Larnaca Harbour.

Yvonne has always had the personality and charm to befriend people and gain their confidence. Her determination to get the story she wanted often landed her in scrapes, but she always managed to escape them with her customary charm offensive.

It comes as no surprise that of all the foreign correspondents assembled in Pakistan she was the one prepared to run the risk of capture by venturing into Taliban territory for that exclusive. Or that she was able to sweet talk two local guides to support her adventure. Or that she thought wearing a veil would be sufficient to hide her glamorous looks and clipped North-East accent, and thereby avoid the attention of the militia.

Any doubts she would have had about the wisdom of her assignment would have paled into insignificance next to her enthusiasm and confidence that she would be all right.

Even as a captive of the Taliban, her fears will be tempered by the thought that she has a damn good story to tell.

Our thoughts are with her family and friends in the North-East where she was brought up and has spent most of her career; and where she frequently returns to rekindle friendships and acquaintances.

We hope we will be seeing her very soon, safe and well, and able to listen first-hand to details of her latest adventure.

Today she finds herself in the biggest scrape of her life. We hope the combined might of her charm, personality, the Foreign Office and our prayers will come to her rescue.