A WHALLEY man jailed for drug offences in Thailand is to return to Lancashire before the new year.

Christopher Egan, who endured a Thai prison nightmare after being jailed nearly two years ago, is to be transferred from Wandsworth jail, near Heathrow, to Kirkham Open Prison next week.

His family are disappointed he won't be 'home' for Christmas, but are relieved he will soon be subject to a more liberal visiting regime.

The Egans, of King Street, Whalley, had hoped their 35-year-old son -- a former pupil at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn -- would be transferred to Lancashire by December 25.

He was repatriated to Wandsworth in September after spending the early part of his sentence in Klongprem Men's Prison in Thailand, better known as the infamous Bangkok Hilton.

Mum Joan Egan, 63, said: "We're thrilled he's coming up north next week, just a bit disappointed it won't be in time for Christmas.

"But we've got dozens of Christmas cards for him which we can now deliver personally.

"He's looking forward to Kirkham, if that's the right phrase, because he's had about eight different cell mates since he got to Wandsworth.

"It's funny because while in Thailand he had about 15 other people in his cell, but they seemed much more polite than cellmates back home.

"Anyway, when he arrives at Kirkham we've been told we might have up to four visits a month compared to just two at Wandsworth. Also, I believe we can visit for two hours at a time whereas we only got one hour at Wandsworth."

The family hope to visit him on January 2.

He was sentenced to 16 years in a Thai jail in February last year after he was caught with eight amphetamine tablets and marked notes in his luggage.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of possession to avoid a longer prison sentence, but has always denied the allegations.

His sentence was later reduced to eight years, then to four years and was cut by a further six months earlier this year as part of the Thai queen's birthday amnesty.

The Egans hope he could be allowed out on a home detection curfew, or tagging scheme, as early as April.

He will be free in September next year.