A March GP and his wife who run a medical relief charity have been kidnapped in Nigeria.

News of their capture was relayed to members of a church gathering eight days ago.

The Cambs Times knew of their capture but we had been requested by the Foreign Office to maintain a news black out; national media today broke the news.

Dr David Donovan and his wife Shirley had been working in the Burutu area of Delta state providing medical care to remote villages. Two others in their party were kidnapped at the same time.

All four work for the New Foundations charity which has run a prolific fund raising campaign over the years to support such work.

Dr Donovan joined the Riverside practice in 2013 but it is thought that on his return to March he had planned to switch surgeries.

Details of any ransom demand are not being made public but police in the Delta state have praised the GP and his team for the support they have provided their community in recent years.

Kidnapping is not uncommon in the part of Nigeria where the four have been held but police are hopeful they can be rescued “without jeopardising their lives” said a police spokesman.