HUNDREDS of posters in Urdu carrying the Bishop of Blackburn's appeal for information about Blackburn hostage Paul Wells have been sent to India.

Posters are being sent to every village and town in the Kashmir region where Paul and four other Westerners were taken hostage by the Al-Faran group in 1995.

Each poster carries the appeal by the bishop, the Rt Rev Alan Chesters, with a request to local postmasters, mosque leaders and local communities to ensure it is displayed. Copies are also being displayed on the Internet.

The Rev John Cree, in whose parish Paul lived, is also supplying copies of the poster to local people who might have contacts in Kashmir.

Mr Cree, vicar of Feniscowles, said: "Anyone who wants to collect a poster with an envelope to post to Kashmir can do so by coming along to Immanuel Church on Thursday afternoons between 2.30pm and 4.30pm, or on Thursday evenings from 6.30pm to 8.30pm."

He added: "All they need is a stamp. Paul's family and all those working and praying in the Blackburn area on their behalf, would be so grateful if people with contacts in Kashmir could help us with this."

The Bishop's appeal states: "If Paul and the other hostages are dead, then their families need to know so that they can perform the religious ceremonies for the dead. If they are alive, then their families need to be reassured of their well-being."

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