A British mine clearance expert kidnapped in Cambodia more than two years ago has been murdered, the Foreign Office said yesterday.

A team of British detectives investigating the disappearance of Christopher Howes has found ''firm evidence'' of the 37-year-old former soldier's death. His family has been informed.

Mr Howes was working for the Mines Advisory Group, a British charity, at the village of Preah Ko, near the temples of Angkor Wat, when he was kidnapped by the Khmer Rouge in March 1996.

Despite many rumours - on one occasion prompting the MAG to pay a #75,000 ransom - there has never been any reliable evidence about his fate and his family continued to hope that he might be alive.

The news was broken by telephone to his parents, Mr Roy Howes and Mrs Betty Howes, at their home near Bristol, by the head of counter terrorism. The Howes were alone at their bungalow enjoying their garden on the hot bank holiday weekend.

Mr Howes, his voice cracking with emotion, said: ''It was news we hoped would never happen. We had hoped that he would come out. We are enormously shocked and saddened, but we are very proud of our son and his remarkable bravery and honour in not leaving his people.''

He was referring to his son's decision not to accept the offer of freedom made by his kidnappers, but to remain in captivity with his Cambodian interpreter Houn Hourth.

Mr Howes said that he had telephoned his daughter, Pat, a local government officer in Wakefield, to give her the grim news.

''I was very upset and so was she,'' he said.

''We are trying to be normal but it is not a normal situation. We have got to be brave for our son.''

He understood that the Metropolitan Police officers, who had been involved in intensive inquiries in northern Cambodia, now had witnesses that Christopher was murdered three days after he was taken. The policemen had contacted the Foreign Office.

Mr Howes stressed that he had not been given any detailed information but was expecting the police officers to contact him on their return.

''It was absolute shock and horror and we are in total despair. We are trying to come to terms with it, but it is not easy. What has happened, has happened. Christopher did marvellous work. He was a brave man and in his short life he probably achieved more than most of us will achieve.''

Mr Howes pleaded that he and his wife should be allowed privacy to grieve alone.

According to the most recent rumours, published last month, Mr Howes was shot on the personal orders of infamous Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot shortly after his capture.

The Foreign Office said yesterday the evidence of his death had been obtained by the team of Scotland Yard detectives, who had been in Cambodia since April, from the murder scene at Anlong Veng, a former Khmer Rouge jungle stronghold.

Foreign Office Minister Baroness Symons said: ''We have been in close touch with Christopher's family throughout their long ordeal. Together we have feared the worst for some time. Today's news is most distressing.

''Christopher Howes was working selflessly in Cambodia to save lives by clearing mines when he was taken. The example he set was a shining one to us all.

''My deepest sympathy and that of the whole FCO goes to Roy, Betty, Pat and all of Christopher's family.''