THE safe homecoming of a retired couple, held captive for more than a year by Somali pirates has delighted their family from the Vale.

Paul and Rachel Chandler flew into Heathrow Airport on Tuesday night and were taken to a private location where they enjoyed a emotional reunion with family and friends after their harrowing ordeal.

On Monday, Mr Chandler’s sister, Jill Marshment, spoke of her delight at her brother’s release over the weekend.

Mrs Marshment, of Dock Lane, Bredon, told the Journal she was “very very pleased” by the news the 60-year-old and his wife Rachel would be coming home.

The couple, of Tunbridge Wells, were held hostage by Somali pirates for 13 months when their yacht, Lynn Rival, was boarded off the Seychelles in October 2009.

News of their release emerged on Sunday after the reported payment of a £600,000 ransom, although there has been no official confirmation of this.

They were initially taken to Adado, central Somalia, near the Ethiopian border but were later transferred to Mogadishu and then Kenya.

They underwent medical checks in Nairobi before flying back to the UK.

Mr and Mrs Chandler were also informed of the tragic death of Paul’s father, who died while they were being held captive.

Earlier this year, pirates threatened to kill the couple if their demands for £4.4m were not met.

In a statement, family members said the couple were “in good spirits although very tired and exhausted by their experience”.

“Paul and Rachel have asked us to thank all those around the country who have offered support during their ordeal and the professional advisors who have worked around the clock to secure their release,” they said.