A MAN held hostage in Libya for nine months during the 1980s has hit out at a suggestion to twin a North Hertfordshire town with a community in that country.

Robin Plummer, from Letchworth GC, was imprisoned by the Gaddafi regime while he was working as a engineer in the country in 1984-85.

Mr Plummer was angered by a suggestion Councillor Gerald Morris put forward in a Royston area committee meeting about the possibility of the town twinning with a Libyan counterpart.

Speaking at the meeting Cllr Morris had said: “If we want to be really ahead of the game and twin with a Libyan town, how would we do it?” and added: “I’m serious.”

But 60-year-old Mr Plummer, who lived in Royston for more than 30 years, said: “What these people don’t understand is one of the residents of the town for 30 years was held as a hostage for nine months. It ruined my life, marriage, and finances.

“They should do their homework before making comments like this.

“The best they could have done was to think about what they were saying.

“If they had turned around and said they would like to twin with Bengazhi, the starting point of the revolution that appears to have overthrown the Libyan regime that took a resident hostage – that would be something we could work with.

“The impact of being taken hostage was life-changing – nothing has been the same afterwards.

“If people want to know what it’s like I have published a book.”

Cllr Morris was unwilling to comment.

More information on Mr Plummer’s experiences can be found on his website www.abrushwithmadness.co.uk