THE parents of North-East hostage Keith Mangan say they will never give up hope of seeing their son alive - five years after he was kidnapped at gunpoint.

On the eve of the fifth anniversary of her son's disappearance in Kashmir, Mavis Mangan said last night: "We have never given up hope and we never will give up until we know one way or another. All we can do is wait for proof.

"It is difficult to keep our determination but we won't let them get us down."

Tomorrow, Mrs Mangan and her husband Charles are planning to meet Sultan Mahmood Choudary, Kashmir's most senior politician, in a meeting set up by The Northern Echo. They hope to discover what steps are still being taken to find their son.

Keith, then a 35-year-old electrician, was snatched at gunpoint on July 4, 1995, while trekking in the Himalayan foothills with his wife Julie.

Extremist group Al Faran later claimed responsibility for the abduction.

He was held with Paul Wells, from Lancashire, American Donald Hutchings and German Dirk Hasert.

Norweigan Hans Christian Ostro, who was also taken by the terrorist group, was later beheaded and his mutilated body was discovered in a remote Kashmiri forest.

But Keith has never been traced, although photographs of him, apparently wounded, were released by his kidnappers.

His 65-year-old father said the past five years had been an horrific ordeal for the family.

"We don't seem to get anywhere - there is nothing coming out," he said.

"Surely after five years someone in Kashmir must know where they are. They don't just vanish without anyone knowing."

Mr Choudary, prime minister of the disputed province, visits the North-East tomorrow to call at Cleveland Bridge in Darlington, a firm which has been involved in civil engineering projects in Kashmir.

He is planning a detour to Teesside to meet Mr and Mrs Mangan at their home in Medmourne Gardens, Brookefield, Middlesbrough.

Last night the couple said they welcomed the opportunity to meet Mr Choudary and said they planned to ask him what is being done to bring an end to their five-year ordeal.

"We will ask him what information they have to try and resolve this and what information he can tell us about the situation," said Mr Mangan.

"We very much appreciate him coming to see us as he will have a tight schedule.

"He seems to mean business and it shows he is concerned. Maybe he can't do anything but at least he has made the effort to come and talk to us and we hope he tries his best to do something."

The family last spoke to the Foreign Office a month ago and were told officials were continuing to meet to discuss the situation.

Mrs Mangan, 63, added: "It is hard because they seem to be having meetings every week, but I want action - I don't know what comes out of these meetings."

She said life had not got any easier after five years with no conclusive proof of what had happened to her son.

The couple had both suffered heart problems, which they believe is down to the stress they have endured.

Javed Ismail, a Middlesbrough councillor who was born in Kashmir, helped The Northern Echo set up the meeting. Mr Ismail said he was very pleased Mr Choudary planned to see the Mangan's.

"He will do his best to get information and reassure them that everything is being done.