A British missionary who was sentenced to hard labour in a Gambian prison has been released.

The Foreign Office confirmed that David Fulton, 61, from Troon in Ayrshire, had been released although it is still not clear if he has returned to the UK.

Mr Fulton and his wife, Fiona, 47, were working as missionaries in the country when they were found guilty of sedition and sentenced to hard labour in December 2008.

They admitted at the time to sending emails in which they criticised the Gambian government and the dominance of Islam in the country.

Mrs Fulton was released after serving one year in the prison, before being deported back to the UK and campaigning here for her husband's release.

Mr Fulton, however, had his sentence extended by three years last March after being convicted of forgery while working as an army chaplain.

Mr Fulton’s release has been welcomed by Stuart Windsor, national director of Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

“We didn’t know that David was going to be released so we’re absolutely delighted,” he was quoted as saying by the Scotsman.

“There have been things going on covertly, negotiations, behind the scenes, but I don’t know any more than that.”

In addition to being army chaplain, Mr Fulton ran a ministry reaching out to remote villages via boat, while his wife cared for terminally ill people.

Gambia is predominantly Muslim, with over 90 per cent of the population belonging to the faith.