A WEALTHY businessman who was kidnapped at gunpoint by a gang told last night of his "hellish nightmare".

Tony Pattison was held hostage for 30 hours before being set free when a substantial ransom from his family was handed over.

The 45-year-old Teesside man described his ordeal as "the worst I have known" and said: "My family and I have been through hell at the hands of a ruthless gang."

Mr Pattison, who is married with a step-son in his 20s, was snatched from a car park in Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, on Monday afternoon and held until Tuesday night.

In a series of chilling phone calls to his brother, his kidnappers threatened to kill him unless tens of thousands of pounds were handed over.

His brother, also a businessman in Hartlepool, alerted the police in the early hours of Tuesday and an operation was launched.

More than 100 officers, including some from the National Crime Squad, were involved.

The manpower has been reduced since Mr Pattison's release, although the hunt for the gang continues.

One man was arrested on Tuesday night when a white Ford Transit van was stopped in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, with the ransom money inside.

The suspect, a 42-year-old from Hartlepool, was being questioned by police last night.

Detectives believe at least three other men were involved in the abduction - and they may have Wearside accents.

The gang pulled Mr Pattison from his Vauxhall Vectra and bundled him into the back of a Ford Transit van where he was bound and gagged.

He was kept overnight in an unknown building and driven around for much of Tuesday as his captors negotiated with his family.

He was finally dumped in a shed at the end of a dirt track near the Samsung factory, at Wynyard, on the outskirts of Hartlepool.

Mr Pattison said: "This trauma has had an appalling effect on me and my family.

"I have been bound, threatened and put in fear of my life. I did not know what would happen to me next.

"I can only thank the police and others who have worked so tirelessly to bring this nightmare to an end.

"All I hope now is the people behind this can be brought to justice."

At a Press conference at Cleveland Police headquarters in Middlesbrough yesterday, Assistant Chief Constable Derek Bonnard said: "While we are extremely pleased that this operation has come to a successful conclusion, we still have a long way to go."

Detective Superintendent Brian Dunn, who is leading the investigation, said it was a mystery why Mr Pattison was a target for the kidnap gang, but investigations into his background are continuing.

In the meantime, Mr Pattison's close family, who were kept in safe houses until the kidnap was over, are being helped through their ordeal by police officers.

Det Supt Dunn said Mr Pattison was shocked and in trauma following his release, and had injuries to his arms and legs where he had been tied up.

He said: "His family were very relieved, and all of them have suffered as a result of this incident.

"Mr Pattison is traumatised, and that is why it has been difficult to get information from him in the early stages.

"We would like to give some assurance to the people of Cleveland that this is a very unusual crime.

"It is not something we deal with on a day-to-day basis, and obviously Mr Pattison has been singled out for some particular reason."

Mr Pattison's neighbours said they were shocked by what happened.

The Northern Echo has agreed with a police request not to reveal Mr Pattison's address.

Police want to hear from anybody who may have seen the van, registration number Y599 GFT, in the past few days, or anyone who witnessed the abduction.

The numbers for the incident room are (01642) 303187 and 301783.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on (0800) 555111.