HUMAN rights activist James Mawdsley may be back in Britain by the end of the week.

Speculation is growing that the 27-year-old pro-democracy campaigner will be flown from captivity in his remote prison, deep in the Burmese countryside, to the capital Rangoon later today, in preparation for his long-awaited release some time tomorrow.

The former Hexham schoolboy is being deported by his Burmese captors, 13 months into a 17-year prison sentence imposed for handing out leaflets, which angered the ruling military junta.

Diplomatic pressure mounted in recent weeks, after it was revealed that James had suffered a beating at the hands of guards in remote Kentung Prison, where he has been held in solitary confinement.

His mother Diana, a nurse from Brancepeth, near Durham, visited James in prison last Thursday, and plans to greet him on his release, which she hopes could come within the next 24 hours.

She is extending her stay at the British Embassy Club in the Burmese capital, Rangoon, in the hope that she can accompany her son on his return flight to Britain.

The family has yet to be told when he will be released.

A Foreign Office spokesman said last night: "We are awaiting his return to the UK and we understand it is pretty imminent.

"The priority is to get him back to his family."

Speaking earlier yesterday, from Rangoon, Mrs Mawdsley said: "We have to wait for news from the Burmese authorities.

"We still don't know when we will see James or even how we will see James.

"We had some hope that he may have flown down today, but the authorities say he is still in Kentung, although the general feeling is it may be tomorrow.

"The news is so unexpected as well as so lovely."

James' sister, Dr Emma Mawdsley, a geography lecurer and researcher at Durham University, said: "Until he touches ground in this country there will always be a touch of anxiety.