A former colleague at The Argus of kidnapped BBC reporter Alan Johnston has called for his safe return.

The 44-year-old, who worked in the Eastbourne office of The Argus in the late Eighties, was seized at gunpoint in Gaza city on March 12.

Jeannine Williamson, who ran the Eastbourne office for 17 years, said she remembered Mr Johnston as a quiet but approachable and talented man, with a great sense of humour.

She said: "I was really shocked when I suddenly saw his face on TV and realised what had happened to him.

"I am really hoping for some good news soon.

"He was such a nice guy who just got on with things. He was very calm and unflappable which made him very well suited for working at the daily paper and he had such a pleasant manner that everyone just warmed to him.

"I certainly wasn't surprised when he got a job with the BBC.

He was very insightful and interested in world affairs."

Last week a group calling itself Jaish-e-al-Islam - the Army of Islam - sent a video purporting to show a picture of Mr Johnston's press card to the Aljazeera news bureau in Gaza. The tape includes demands by Jaish-e-al-Islam.

Aljazeera has broadcast a direct appeal from the Archbishop of York to Mr Johnston's captors.

In the broadcast Dr John Sentamu appealed directly to Mr Johnston's captors to release him. The archbishop also stressed Alan Johnston's role in giving a voice to the Palestinian people as the only Western journalist to remain in Gaza.