Determined families marched through the streets of Carlisle as they demanded action to free loved ones locked up in an Indian prison.

Up to 70 people gathered to march through the city to raise awareness of the plight of John Armstrong and five other Britons ahead of a crunch meeting with a Foreign Office minister.

A united campaign by the six Britons' families has seen them become known as the SGO6, after the Seaman Guard Ohio ship on which they had all been on board at the time of their arrest in October 2013.

They have continuously protested their innocence, and their appeal is due to be heard on June 1.

Representatives from five of the six families led dozens of people in chants and rallying cries yesterday, as they carried banners and placards from outside the Scotch Street entrance of Debenhams to the Halston Hotel in Warwick Road.

Among them was Anthony Birtwistle who had travelled to the city from John's hometown of Wigton.

He told the News & Star: "I've known John and his family for years. I'm here to get him out of prison - I want him on a plane tomorrow."

The rally had been organised by the families of the six Britons, including John's sister Joanne Thomlinson and Yvonne MacHugh, whose fiancee Billy Irving is also imprisoned.

Joanne, 30, of Blennerhasset, said: "The rally is massively important to raise awareness, because still a lot of people don't know about this case.

"The men have been in prison for four months now and things are feeling a bit flat for them. We can tell them about this and send photos and newspaper cuttings and show them how much support is out there."

Yvonne, who had travelled from Glasgow, added: "It's the first time the families have come together publicly to do something like this.

"It was organised at short notice, but the support shown here is amazing."

Shoppers in the city stopped to stare, as the campaigners chanted "Free the SGO6" and "Bring Our Boys Home".

Also taking part in the march was John's dad, also called John, who thanked the Cumbrian community for their support.

""It's absolutely fantastic," he said. "Not just in the money they've given [towards the men's legal fees] but for the words and letters and support that has come in - and is still coming in."

The group gathered outside the Halston while the families, supported by John's MP Rory Stewart, met Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire and other representatives inside the hotel.

The imprisoned Britons are John Armstrong, Billy Irving, Paul Towers, Ray Tindall, Nick Simpson and Nick Dunn.

They - and 29 other crew members - were convicted of illegally possessing firearms in Indian waters and of illegal refuelling in January, and sentenced to five years hard labour in prison.

None of the men had been able to leave the country since their initial arrest in 2013, despite all the charges being dropped in July 2014. They had been forced to remain in India until an appeal against that decision had been heard, which led to the men standing trial.