SIX former British soldiers, including a man from Pocklington, have been released from an Indian prison four years after they were charged with weapons offences.

Paul Towers and five other men, who had been guards on a ship to combat piracy in the Indian Ocean, won an appeal against their convictions on Monday.

The so-called Chennai Six were jailed in October 2013 after being charged with smuggling weapons and ammunition.

Supporters on a Facebook page said today: "The men have now been escorted out of Puzhal prison by British Consular officials and have been taken by car to the Deputy High Commission.

"I can't imagine how they must feel finally being freed from Puzhal after so long. They have managed to make quick phone calls home and are now getting sorted with the logistics of where they will be staying etc. More update to follow when we have them."

The men are Mr Towers, 54, Nicholas Simpson, 47, of Catterick, Nick Dunn, 31, of Ashington, Northumberland, Billy Irving, 37, of Oban, Scotland, Ray Tindall, 42, of Chester, and John Armstrong, of Wigton, Cumbria.

They could now face a wait of possibly several weeks before documentation comes through which will allow them to return to the UK.

Yvonne McHugh, partner of Billy Irving from Argyll and Bute, also confirmed the men had been released today.

Ms McHugh said: "They were released about two hours ago and are now at the British Embassy with consular staff.

"They will just go to a hotel in Chennai and will be able to sleep in a bed and have a proper shower for the first time in about two years."

Once Mr Irving was freed, he was able to speak to Ms McHugh on the embassy's phone and update her on their situation.

Ms McHugh said: "Billy called straight away, he couldn't quite believe it had happened.

"He's just over the moon and didn't think they would be released. He took everything that was said with a pinch of salt and didn't believe it.

"We are hoping they could be home in two weeks. If it's less than that it will be a miracle."