THE British nurses freed from Saudi Arabia made a terrible mistake in selling their stories before persuading the country of their innocence, according to publicist Max Clifford.

Mr Clifford, speaking at the Oxford Union last night, said the pressure now on ex-John Radcliffe nurse Deborah Parry, 39, was his greatest concern.

He told Oxford students: "I think that Deborah Parry is particularly fragile. Whether she can stand up to the media spotlight remains to be seen.

"But I think both of them need help. Both need to be looked after."

Mr Clifford said he had been called in to offer advice by the nurses' solicitors. But he said his advice to the women had not been accepted.

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