The Briton named by Pakistan as a "key planner" of the alleged aircraft bomb plot is innocent, his family has insisted.

In a remote village in Kashmir, relatives of Rashid Rauf described him as "polite and gentle", according to the Evening Standard.

Rauf is one of 17 suspects held in Pakistan over the alleged plot to blow up as many as ten passenger jets in mid-flight between Britain and America.

"He was a very silent person," his uncle, Liaqat Zamil Qazi, told the Standard. "He used to come for weddings and deaths. But we are shocked that he has been detained. He was polite and gentle."

Although many of Rauf's relatives, including his father Abdul, lives in the obscure village of Haveli Beghal, the 25-year-old himself was taken to Britain as a baby. "He was bred and born in the UK and he has the values of the UK," his uncle said.

Rauf's brother Tayib, 22, was arrested in Birmingham and is on a list of 19 terror suspects whose assets were frozen under an order from the Treasury.

Rashid Rauf left Britain in 2002 shortly after his uncle, Mohammed Saeed, 54, was stabbed to death near the Rauf family home in Birmingham.

Pakistani officials said they have had him under surveillance for "quite some time" in connection with the alleged plane plot. His arrest earlier this month is believed to have triggered the swoops in Britain.

"We cannot even believe that (the Raufs) are involved in this," Mr Qazi said. "They are very pious people."

Qazi Ashaque, a cousin based in Britain but visiting the village, added: "I can't believe he could do such a thing. He is a very innocent young man."

Meanwhile a 24th person was arrested in Britain yesterday.

Police will today ask judges for extra time to question the other 23 suspects, rounded up across London, High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire and Birmingham last Thursday. Under anti-terror laws, they can be held for a maximum of 28 days.