An inspirational woman who doggedly campaigned for the release of her brother from an Indian prison has been named Cumbria Woman of the Year.

Joanne Thomlinson, from Wigton, was awarded the prestigious title at a ceremony yesterday - a year to the day since her brother John Armstrong left jail.

Determined Joanne was part of a worldwide campaign pushing for the release of her brother who spent more than four years stranded in the country.

He was one of the six Britons jailed - known as #Chennai6 after the city where they were imprisoned - on weapons charges after working as security guards on ships to combat piracy in the Indian Ocean.

Joanne, along with the other families of the men, campaigned tirelessly to have the conviction overturned.

She gave interviews on television and radio, harnessed the support of Government ministers and celebrities as part of the campaign and visited John in India on several occasions.

The men were acquitted by an Indian court in November last year.

Joanne, who works for Dodd & Co accountants, said: “It is amazing to be among so many inspirational women and I feel humbled to have won.

“I was a small part of a big team who campaigned to have John and his colleagues released and to receive this award a year to the day is especially poignant.”

The case attracted global attention, as the British men are all armed forces veterans – many having completed tours of Afghanistan and Iraq. They later moved into maritime security.