YORK street entertainer Michael Todd was arrested by US soldiers in Iraq for "straying into a military operation," the Evening Press can reveal today.

York MP Hugh Bayley contacted the British consul in Baghdad after learning of Mr Todd's arrest.

He confirmed Mr Todd, also known as Michael Mime, is "fit and well," and was expected to be released by the end of the week.

Mr Bayley said: "The consul said he (Mr Todd) strayed into a military operation by the US and was taken into custody. He said he is being treated well, and that he asked for messages to be passed on to two people in the UK. The consul expects he will be released in a couple of days to consular staff in Baghdad, and will then make arrangements for him to come home."

Mr Bayley appealed for Mr Todd's family or next-of-kin to contact him at his York office on 01904 623713.

Mr Todd has spent more than two weeks in US military custody, after being picked up by soldiers in Sulaymaniyah, in northern Iraq, on July 4.

He was transferred to Baghdad the following day.

The 33-year-old headed for the Middle East in February.

He first said he was on a mission to spread "unconditional love" to the war-torn country, and took hundreds of soft toys donated to Iraqi children by York residents. Mr Todd then claimed he was trying to trace his estranged Iraqi girlfriend and their daughter.

A spokesman for campaign group Amnesty International said he believed Mr Todd was the only Briton being held by the military in Iraq.

Are you Mr Todd's family or do you know where they live? If so phone Richard Edwards on 01904 653051 (extension 310) or email richard.edwards@ycp.co.uk. The Evening Press will ring you straight back.

Updated: 10:55 Wednesday, July 23, 2003