Boris Johnson: 'UK will leave no stone unturned' in the case of six British soldiers jailed in Indian prison

Boris Johnson has said the UK will "leave no stone unturned" after facingfresh pressure to bring home six British men "languishing" in an Indian jail - including Ashington man Nick Dunn.

Conservative former Foreign Office minister Sir Hugo Swire said it is time the ex-soldiers, referred to as the "Chennai Six", were brought home and suggested the Foreign Secretary meets the chief minister in the state where they are being held to find a solution.

Labour MP Christian Matheson also appealed for help, telling Mr Johnson to "do a deal" and ensure he can have a pint with one of those affected who he represents as City of Chester MP.

The men involved are Billy Irving, from Connel, Argyll and Bute, Nick Dunn, from Ashington, Northumberland, Ray Tindall from Chester, Paul Towers, from Yorkshire, John Armstrong, from Wigton, Cumbria, and Nicholas Simpson, from Catterick, North Yorkshire.

They were working for US maritime company AdvanFort providing anti-piracy protection when their ship, MV Seaman Guard Ohio, which had a crew of 35, was detained and weapons found.

They were arrested in October 2013 on illegal weapons charges, which were dropped in the following months, but an appeal followed from the Indian authorities and the men were later convicted and sentenced to five years in jail.

The case has been branded a 'miscarriage of justice' while Prime Minister Theresa May raised their plight with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the recent G20 summit.

Speaking in the Commons, Sir Hugo told Mr Johnson:

Mr Johnson replied:

Mr Matheson earlier told the Commons:

Mr Johnson said he appreciated Mr Matheson's persistence, adding he haspersonally raised the case with his Indian counterparts on several occasions.

Read more: Brits imprisoned in India on weapons charges