A Briton was killed in a bomb attack in November

After several days of negotiations over access, a British diplomat was allowed in to see Mr Mitchell, who could face the death penalty under Saudi law.

A date for his trial has yet to be announced and until then the interior minister has refused to allow the men access to a defence lawyer.

A Foreign Office spokesman told the BBC that Mr Mitchell, 44, had asked for no details of the consular visit to be disclosed to the media.

The spokesman said only that Mr Mitchell, who was originally from Kirkintilloch, near Glasgow, was well.

It was also revealed on Monday that Saudi officials have asked the authorities in the nearby emirate of Dubai to extradite another Briton, Gary Dixon, on charges of alcohol-related offences.

Importing, drinking or selling alcohol is strictly forbidden in Saudi Arabia.

Drinking crackdown

They are crimes that are normally punishable by public flogging.

Mr Mitchell was one of six Britons arrested on 17 December and charged with "alcohol offences".

However, on 4 February he and two other Westerners were shown on Saudi television, allegedly confessing to involvement in a bombing in the country's capital.

Mr Mitchell was quoted as saying: "I confirm and confess that I received orders to carry out the bombing here in Riyadh which took place on 17 November."

The other men shown on the broadcast were Canadian citizen, William Sampson, who was born in Glasgow, and Belgian Ralph Skevins.