Relatives of British hostages held in Iraq for more than 18 months have spoken of their heartache as they gear up for another Christmas without their loved ones.

The five men — a computer expert and his bodyguards — were kidnapped at the finance ministry in Baghdad in May last year.

A gang posing as policemen snatched the group, and have since demanded the release of prisoners in American detention. They have also claimed that one of the hostages committed suicide.

The kidnapped men have not been fully identified for security reasons.

Roseleen, wife of Alan, told the BBC: “My son is three so he has not seen his dad since just before his second birthday. He is now three and a half and he has told people his daddy is coming home for Christmas so that is quite sad.”

The mum-of-two hopes every day for her husband’s return. The Foreign Office refused to comment.