Bigley's final plea

Ken Bigley was beheaded moments after making a final plea to Tony Blair to meet his kidnappers' demands, it has emerged.

'I'm not a difficult person. I am a simple man who just wants to live a simple life with his family.'

Mr Bigley, who was sitting on the floor with militants standing behind him, added: 'These people, their patience is wearing very, very thin and they are very serious people.

'Please, please give them what they require. I have a very short time left.'

During the five-minute tape, one of the hooded men accused the British government of lying when it said it did not know how to contact them.

'Because Britain is not serious in releasing our sisters [Islamic prisoners], there is nothing further for this malicious Briton than the sword,' he added. He then put a knife to Mr Bigley's neck as they all leapt on him, yelling: 'God is greatest'.

Details of the murder emerged as prayers were said for the Bigley family at church services across the country, and flowers were left at his mother's home in the Liverpool suburb of Walton.

The engineer was snatched last month with two Americans who were also beheaded by Al-Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.