Families delighted by release news

The sister of sailor Arthur Batchelor, 20, from Plymouth, Devon, believed to be the youngest of the captives, said she would not be celebrating until he was out of Iran. Maggie Phillips said: "It is such a relief that he is OK and that he is well, plus the other lads as well. The other families must be as happy I am. But I do not think I will be happy until he is on that plane, and stood in front of me."

But celebrations were already under way in Hayle, Cornwall, the home town of Royal Navy sailor Nathan Summers, 21. Staff at the Cornubia Hotel in the town, where he used to work, had put up yellow ribbons around the bar in support of him and his family.

The family of Royal Marine Corporal Dean Harris, 24, from the village of Trevaughan, near Carmarthen, west Wales, said in a statement: "This is an overwhelming relief to us that they have agreed to free Dean and the rest of them. But until we can see he is out of there, either on a plane or somewhere safe, we cannot raise our hopes."

Cpl Harris's best friend, Gareth Owen, told BBC Radio Wales: "He just takes it as a job. He's a strong character, and that's the way he'll take it."

The family of Royal Marine Adam Sperry, 22, from Leicester, said they planned to toast his freedom on Wednesday night. His mother, Sandra Sperry, was shopping for Easter eggs when her mobile phone rang hot with news of his release.

She told Sky News she cut short her trip, adding: "I'm absolutely ecstatic. I cannot believe this has happened. My daughter telephoned me. I went out for Easter eggs, I did not come out with any. The last few days have been awful because at the end of the day he is my son."

Glasses were also raised to the good news in the Scottish village home to 26-year-old Royal Marine Danny Masterton. In his local pub, The Coach House Inn, in Muirkirk, Ayrshire, landlady Audrey Bone said: "We're just absolutely delighted at the news."

The father of Leading Seaman Chris Coe, 31, from Dalton, Huddersfield, said he was "overjoyed" when he heard Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's announcement. Stephen Coe said: "I'm just relieved. We're absolutely over the moon. It's the best news we've had for a long time."

The mother of Royal Marine Captain Chris Air, 25, from Altrincham, Cheshire, spoke of the "very dark days" she experienced since her eldest son was captured and her delight at hearing of his release. "Obviously we are delighted at the news but it all feels a little surreal. You hope and pray for news like this and then it happens so suddenly," midwife Sally Air said. Cpt Air's family, who are Evangelical Christians, said their faith had supported them through the ordeal.