A Sunday Mercury journalist is being held by the authorities in Pakistan.

Amardeep Bassey, (29), the paper's investigations editor, was arrested on Friday when he tried to return to Pakistan from Afghanistan.

Amardeep (left) was detained in the border town of Torkham when the authorities examined his passport and found he did not have the required exit stamp on his visa.

Sunday Mercury deputy editor Paul Cole said: "Trinity Mirror is monitoring the situation. We are working hard to resolve this as quickly as possible."

Amardeep was arrested along with two other men and taken to a prison in nearby Landi Kotal, and there have been unconfirmed reports that Amardeep is under suspicion of spying.

He had been reporting on the upheavals in the war-torn nation from the capital Kabul.

Paul added: "The Foreign Office is working to ensure consular access.

"Various journalist organisations, including the NUJ and the International Federation of Journalists have offered their help, and this has been accepted."

Various MEPs are also drafting letters to put pressure on Tony Blair who is said to be aware of the situation and has asked to be kept updated.

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