THE wife of kidnapped Bolton-convoy aid worker Alan Henning has issued a tearful television appeal begging his Islamic State captors to release him.

Barbara Henning appeared on camera for the first time and pleaded with the jihadist group to show mercy to her husband.

In an emotional statement directed at Islamic State, she said: "We have not abandoned Alan and we continue in our attempts to communicate with you."

Mrs Henning said that while some would say "wrong time, wrong place" about Alan's fate, she believed her husband was "in the right place, doing the right thing" when he went to Syria to deliver aid and supplies.

Mr Henning, aged 47, was captured after travelling from Bolton to Syria last December, he had been in the war-torn country for just 30 minutes when he was taken.

Mrs Henning said she could not understand why IS would not ackowledge Alan's reasons for travelling to the region, adding: “We are at a loss why those leading Islamic State cannot open their hearts and minds to the truth about Alan’s humanitarian motives for going to Syria.”

"Muslims across the globe continue to question Islamic State over Alan's fate." 

She said she had no contact with the terrorist group apart from an audio message of her husband pleading for his life.

She said: “Surely those who wish to be seen as a state will act in a statesman like way by showing mercy and provided clemency,” 

“I ask again for Islamic State, supported by voices from across the world, to spare Alan’s life.”

"I ask Islamic State please release him, we need him back home.”