Somali pirates have released hostage Judith Tebbutt

A WOMAN kidnapped by pirates in Kenya in a raid that left her husband dead has been released, more than six months after she was taken hostage.

Judith Tebbutt is a social worker at psychiatric hospital Kneesworth House near Royston and was on holiday with her husband David at the remote Kiwayu Safari Village - near the Somalia border - when the attack took place just after midnight on September 10.

Mr Tebbutt, 58, was shot once in the chest as he tried to fight off the attackers.

This morning (Wednesday), the British High Commission in Kenya tweeted: “We can confirm that Judith Tebbutt, the British hostage held in Somalia since September 2011, has been released.

“Our priority now is to get her to a place of safety. We will have more to say shortly.”

Mrs Tebbutt, 56 and from Bishop’s Stortford, was flown to Nairobi, where she will be looked after by officials from the British embassy before being flown back to the UK to be reunited with friends and relatives.

She told national press: “I’m very relieved to have been released. Seven months is a long time. Under the circumstances, with my husband passing away, it made it harder.

“I’m just happy to be released and I’m looking forward to seeing my son who successfully secured my release.”