A SKELMERSDALE man has been named as one of the dead British hostages handed over to authorities in Iraq.

The remains of Jason Swindlehurst, originally from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, and Jason Creswell, originally from Glasgow, were handed over to authorities in Baghdad late on Friday. They were among five Britons taken captive in May 2007.

Mr Swindlehurst lived in Marlborough Gardens, Skelmersdale, neighbours confirmed today.

One neighbour close to the family's large semi-detached home said: "The family asked us not to say anything.

"It’s tragic news. He was a lovely fellow."

Residents in the tidy Skelmersdale cul-de-sac said there was an atmosphere of grief.

Several remained tight-lipped but looked visibly upset by the news.

Mr Swindlehurst's parents Russell and Marie moved to Malta several years ago.

The family home is lived in by the victim’s sister Lizette, said a neighbour. He added that unmarried Mr Swindlehurst had a daughter and also had a brother, Clint, who’s a soldier in Germany.

He said: "It’s a very sad end and what a day to release the news. The sister asked us not to comment when he was last on television, quite a while ago, about 18 months ago."

Referring to claims made by the kidnappers that one of the Jasons had killed himself while in captivity in May last year, he added: "When they said one of the Jasons had killed himself none of us believed it."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has sent his condolences to Mr Creswell and Mr Swindlehurst's families who he said had received ``the worst possible news after two years of very anxious waiting''.

Speaking at Downing St, Mr Brown called for the three other hostages to be released immediately and said there was "no justification" for hostage-taking.

Mr Brown said he had contacted the Iraqi Prime Minister and was working to secure the men’s release "as soon as possible".

According to the BBC, Mr Creswell was from Portlethen, near Aberdeen, and had a partner and two young children.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said they had informed the families "with deep regret".

She added: "Our thoughts are with them at this sad time, and we ask that the media allow them privacy to deal with this news. We continue to do everything we can towards the safe release of the other hostages."

Family members who had been "clinging on to hope" after Foreign Secretary David Miliband said everyone involved in efforts to release the men had "failed" were informed of the forensic results this morning.

They worked as security guards for the Canadian security firm GardaWorld to protect Peter Moore, an IT consultant.

Mr Moore and two other guards - named only as Alan, from Scotland, and Alec, from South Wales - were also kidnapped.

Mr Creswell and Mr Swindlehurst were identified "based on very strong indications", the spokeswoman added.

A spokeswoman said: "Foreign Office officials are in close contact with all the families."