A Bradford businessman is languishing in an African jail charged with murder.

Jacques Lapergue, 60, founder of the Antique Glass Studio, in Bierley, was visiting a friend in Chipata, Zambia, when he was arrested.

His friends say the committed Christian is innocent of the charge which followed his discovery of a man's body in the town.

Mr Lapergue, a French national, was today due to be visited by a senior official from the French Embassy to Zambia and Malawi which is trying to secure his release.

Friends say Mr Lapergue was walking through the town late at night when he came across the body. As he tried to report the incident to a group of locals, they attacked him - believing him to have killed the man.

His friend Andrew Martin, whom he was visiting in Chipata, said: "I went out to buy food for my chickens in the morning and I saw someone who said there was a mob at my house and that I should run for my life and my wife and baby were in trouble.

"As I was going, the mob attacked me and started beating me, saying my friend had killed someone."

Mr Martin believes that Mr Lapergue could face trial within a fortnight.

Sandar Chanemougam, consul at the French Embassy to Zambia and Malawi, said he was visiting Mr Lapergue at the jail today.

He said: "We are aware of this matter which we follow from the day we have been informed, last Friday.

"I received a call last week from Mr Martin - Mr Lapergue was staying with him - and he has been accused of having killed somebody.

"I confirm there is a case in Chipata. He has been in jail there since Friday and I am going there to speak to him."

Mr Lapergue moved to Bradford in the late 1960s after spending five years in Central Africa as a missionary.

He cleaned toilets for a living to earn money so that he could spend his evenings learning about historical artefacts at Bingley Antiques.

The company sold him its entire collection of glass and he founded the Antique Glass Studio, based in Bierley Lane, taking on directors Phil Wilson, of Dudley Hill, and Franck Berthebaud, of Allerton.

Mr Berthebaud said: "He is such a committed Christian and any work he has done has been through his commitment to his faith. If the worst came to the worst he would want that to be known.

"Hopefully the French Embassy can exert some influence on the police over there. It should be obvious there is no evidence against him."

Co-director Phil Wilson said: "It has absolutely gobsmacked us. There is absolutely no question about his innocence - none whatsoever.

"We are so worried about his welfare.

"He's quite calm in a crisis although he can be a bit eccentric he's quite philosophical. But like anyone in that situation he will be terrified. I'd imagine it's unthinkable."

Another friend, Louise Foster, of Reevey Road, Wibsey, has known Mr Lapergue for nearly 30 years.

She said: "He's always been adventurous - he's not a typical 60-year-old.

"He's got a heart of gold and he's always had a heart for Africa and he's a committed Christian."

She said she was worried that his benevolent nature may make him vulnerable.

She said: "He tends to jump in where other people might step back.

"He's so generous he can be taken advantage of. He'd give his last penny to anybody if he thought they needed it."

"I just want people to pray for him."