Supporters of David Blagdon, jailed for life for setting fire to an Oxford church, are being urged to write to the Home Secretary to demand his release.

Blagdon, 47, has spent 20 years behind bars after being found guilty of arson at St Laurence's Church, in South Hinksey, Oxford, in 1978.

On Thursday, the Oxford Mail appealed to Jack Straw to intervene in the case of the prisoner, who is currently at Bullingdon Prison, near Bicester.

The Parole Board is due to review his case in November but the Home Secretary is being urged to act now.

Mr Straw has been given a copy of the Oxford Mail - which reminded him that the prisoner is still serving life.

Now readers are being urged to write to Jack Straw themselves - to press home that the case should be reviewed immediately.

Blagdon's solicitor Kevin O'Gorman said: "I have written to Jack Straw twice and not received a reply, so I am grateful to the Oxford Mail for bringing David's case to his attention.

"I now urge readers to write themselves to the Home Secretary so that he personally intervenes, instead of handing the matter down to one of his minions. "David is heartened by the amount of interest his case has provoked but he would also appreciate some individual letters of support, which would go a long way towards keeping his spirits up at this difficult time."

In a recent letter from Blagdon to the Oxford Mail, he said: "Everyone has said that I will walk."

Anyone who wants to contact David Blagdon should write care of Prisoner F76927, at HMP Bullingdon, PO Box 50, Bicester.

Copies of the Oxford Mail were delivered to Jack Straw at the Home Office in London and at his home at Minster Lovell near Witney.

Earlier this week, Chris Moss, 55, the man who raised the alarm on the day Blagdon set fire to the church, called for him to be freed.

Mr Moss said it was clear that Blagdon's crime was a cry for help following the death of his step-parents.

Story date: Saturday 06 February

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