FREELANCE videographer Kieron Bryan, of Shebbear, has returned home after being held in Russian for 101 days.

Kieron was one of 30 aboard the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise when it campaigned against the Gazprom Arctic drilling platform Prirazlomnaya in September.

He and one other were journalists, contracted by Greenpeace to report on the campaign. However, the two were held with the 28 activists, dubbed the 'Arctic 30', in Russia on piracy charges, and later on hooliganism.

The Arctic 30 hailed from Britain to Australia, and friends, family and strangers rallied in each country to protest against the charges. Celebrities, including Jude Law, joined protestors outside the Russian Embassy in London. The group were released on bail in November, but charges were finally dropped during trials in December.

On December 27, the five members of the Arctic 30 from Great Britain returned, including Kieron and Alex Harris from Torrington, arriving at St Pancras International, London.

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.