MEMBERS of the 'Chennai Six', including a man from Pocklington, have touched down on British soil, saying words could not describe how it felt after spending more than four years in an Indian jail.

Paul Towers and five other former British soldiers had been guards on a ship to combat piracy in the Indian Ocean but were jailed in October 2013 after being charged with carrying unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

They won an appeal against their convictions last week after years of campaigning and were given permission to leave India.

The Mission to Seafarers, a charity which has supported the men and their families ever since their arrest, said Mr Towers, Nicholas Simpson, of Catterick, Nick Dunn, of Ashington, Northumberland, Ray Tindall, of Chester, and Billy Irving of Oban, Scotland, have now returned home.

The other member of the Chennai Six, John Armstrong, of Wigton, Cumbria, has left India, but will not be returning to the UK immediately, the charity added.

Mr Dunn wept as he embraced his family who had been waiting for him at Newcastle Airport.

He said he was going to have a hot bubble bath and was looking forward to eating steak.

“Words can’t describe how I feel, I’m on cloud nine and it’s all down to my sister, she’s made this possible,” he said. “I’ve been quite calm, I hadn’t been anticipating being this calm, it wasn’t until I came through the door there that it hit me.

“After four long years of not being able to see my mum, it’s the best Christmas present I could ever wish for.

“I want to relax with my family and I think a lovely hot bubble bath is on the cards for tonight. It’s something simple that we all take for granted, but I will never take it for granted ever again.

“For everyone that has campaigned for me, I am overwhelmed. Everyone’s support got me through this dark period of my life.

“Without them I don’t know where I would be so I really want to thank the British public for their amazing support.”

Mr Irving was greeted by family and two bagpipers after touching down at Glasgow Airport.

He said: “I’d just like to give a massive thank-you to everyone who supported all of the Chennai Six, all of the 35 men throughout. I just want to thank everyone, they’ve been so kind. Thank you for your support, thank you so much. It feels excellent to be home.”