Alan Henning, the the British man held hostage by Islamic State, is a peaceful man, says his wife who has appealed to his captors to release him.

Henning, a former taxi driver from Manchester, was taken hostage last December in Syria by Islamic State (IS) militants.

The 47-year-old aid worker was shown at the end of a video last week after the beheading of fellow British captive David Haines.

Henning’s wife Barbara said she has sent messages to IS asking them to release her husband but has had no response.

On Saturday she released a statement through the British Foreign Office.

“Alan is a peaceful, selfless man who left his family and his job as a taxi driver in the UK to drive in a convoy all the way to Syria with his Muslim colleagues and friends to help those most in need.

“When he was taken he was driving an ambulance full of food and water to be handed out to anyone in need.

“His purpose for being there was no more and no less. This was an act of sheer compassion.

“I cannot see how it could assist any State’s cause to allow the world to see a man like Alan dying.”