Released kidnap victim Alan Johnston has won a prestigious award for his journalism.
He was handed the honour in Amnesty International's annual media awards, recognising excellence in human rights reporting. Mr Johnston had been selected for the top prize in the radio journalism category before news of his release emerged early hours yesterday.
Alan Johnston has been awarded top radio journalism award by Amnesty International. Image: AP/ Oded Balilty.
His father, Graham, received the award at a ceremony in central London and said: "It's been quite a day. I know he will be highly honoured to have received this. We are just so thankful that he's back."
He thanked Palestinian journalists for maintaining their campaign to free the reporter and also members of the BBC bureau who had kept their colleague's name in the headlines.
Earlier, the BBC correspondent's parents arrived to smiles and applause at London's Heathrow airport after travelling from their home in Scotland.
Describing the moment that they heard the news of their son's release, Graham said: "It's wonderful, it was just wonderful."
Mr Johnston's parents later spoke to their son for the first time since his capture in a brief phone call from the Middle East.