The parents of Captain Chris Air had been relying on the power of prayer to bring about their son’s release but decided, just for luck, to tie a bright yellow ribbon around a tree in the front garden.

Their prayers appeared to be answered yesterday when, shortly after 2pm, the President of Iran signalled that he was minded to hand over the 15 captives as a gift to Britain.

Robin Air and his wife Sally, both 51, had regarded the President’s speech as pivotal and, unable to bear the tension, deliberately switched off the television and radio. The first they knew of their son’s impending release was a phone call from a TV newsman as they were leaving their home in Timperley, Cheshire, for a walk.

Mrs Air said: “These have been very dark days. There was some disbelief when we heard the news. It probably won’t sink in what has happened until I hear Chris’s voice.” Leading Seaman Faye Turney’s sister Amy Freeman said: “I’m very relieved at the prospect of my sister coming home.”

Nick Summers, brother of the detainee Nathan Summers, said from the family home in Hayle, Cornwall: “It’s been a long, long 13 days but I’m just glad it’s coming to an end. I don’t know what I’ll say to Nathan yet but I’m sure I’ll think of something. I expect there’ll be a few drinks involved.”

Friends and neighbours went to the home of Joe Tindell, a Marine, in Shooters Hill, southeast London, to congratulate the family. Responding to President Ahmadinejad’s explanation that he was freeing the detainees as a “gift” to Britain, the Marine’s father, John, said: “How generous.” The Tindells had switched off the Iranian President’s speech after enduring what seemed like an hour of his ramblings.

“Then I got a call from a reporter and we immediately went back to look at the TV,” Mr Tindell said. “It was incredible, unbelievable, an extraordinary change of mood.”

Neil Banks, 26, the brother of Mark Banks, 24, a Marine from Lowestoft, said: “Mark’s very tough and he will have kept a lot of the other lads and the lady laughing and boosting their morale.”

Sandra Sperry, the mother of another Marine, Adam Sperry, was shopping when her daughter telephoned to say he was free.

“I just screamed out,” she said. “I think everyone thought there was a madwoman in the store.”

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