Begg 'knew who was holding murdered Alan Henning'

Moazzam Begg says he may know the people who were holding murdered British aid worker Alan Henning.

Mr Begg told BBC Radio 4's Today programme said he knew militants "much higher up the ladder" in Islamic State, and had previously helped secure the release of hostages being held by extremist groups in Syria.

He revealed he approached the Foreign Office twice with offers to help, and while he was in prison he was told he could deliver a message to IS.

However, the government said the message could only be delivered through an intermediary and not by Begg directly.

Begg claimed the government's "attempt to demonise and to criminalise" him prevented him from delivering a direct "heartfelt" statement to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi which may have helped Henning's cause.

Earlier, CAGE, a human rights organisation represented by Begg, accused the government of "squandering" an opportunity to help Mr Henning.