A HAGLEY doctor who has campaigned tirelessly for the release of the last Brit in Guantánamo Bay has said he's "over the moon" at the news he is to be released.

Dr David Nicholl, a consultant neurologist, has devoted more than a decade to doing his bit to raise the profile of Shaker Aamer - the last British resident remaining in the notorious US detention camp in Cuba.

He's run two London Marathons in a mock Guantánamo prison outfit; he's taken his campaigning to Downing Street, he ran ten laps around The White House in his trusty orange jumpsuit this year - he's even been on hunger strike to highlight the plight of Mr Aamer, who has been locked up without charge or trial for 13 years.

But there'll be no need for further publicity stunts - as the British Government has this afternoon (Friday) announced that Mr Aamer is finally set to be released and returned to the UK.

A Government spokesman said: “We have been notified by the US Government that it has decided to return Shaker Aamer to the UK.

"The Government has regularly raised Mr Aamer’s case with the US authorities and we support President Obama’s commitment to closing the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay.

“In terms of next steps, we understand the US Government has notified Congress of this decision and once that notice period has been concluded, Mr Aamer will be returned to the UK."

Dr Nicholl, a supporter of human rights charities Amnesty International and Reprieve, said of the news: "I'm absolutely ecstatic. I thought something was up as I've had three phone calls within minutes. I can't believe it. It's unbelievable. I'm so glad for him and his family that he's coming back to the UK.

"I'm over the moon that the right thing has happened eventually. Obviously it'll take him years to get over this but he's got a good network of family and friends to support him."

Mr Aamer's lawyer Clive Stafford Smith, of Reprieve, described the news of the impending release as "great" but “about 13 years too late".

He added: "They only just gave notice to congress, so that means without robust intervention Shaker and his family have to wait until October 25 at the earliest for their reunion.

"The UK must demand of President Obama that he should be on a plane tomorrow, so Shaker’s family do not have to endure more of the agony of waiting, uncertain, every time a phone rings.

"British politicians may bombasticate about our ‘robust and effective systems to deal with suspected terrorists’ but Shaker is not and never has been a terrorist, and has been cleared by the Americans themselves for eight years."

Mr Stafford Smith praised Dr Nicholl's campaign efforts and said: "David has been incredibly steadfast in his support for Shaker.

"When you are held incommunicado in a place like Guantanamo Bay, you are in need of friends to put your case, and nobody could have had a better friend than David.

"Not many people would wear a gorilla suit for a man he has never met.”