THE campaign fighting for the release of student hostage Paul Wells could expand to become a charity working on behalf of British captives throughout the world.

The Hostages In Kashmir Campaign hope to use their experience and contacts to aid any family which finds itself in the same nightmare situation as Paul's parents Bob and Dianne.

The campaign was initially formed in Middlesbrough to secure information about Paul, 26, of Bracken Close, Feniscowles, Blackburn, and his fellow captive from the town, Keith Mangan.

But campaign director James Bowman said the group hoped to set up a "new arm" offering advice and practical assistance. Mr Bowman added: "We have received several calls from distraught families asking 'What do we do?'.

"It is very difficult for families who have no experience of this type of tragedy and often limited resources to know how to proceed when their loved ones have been captured thousands of miles away.

"There is very little help on offer other than a daily telephone call from the Foreign Office."

There are currently around 80 British citizens missing throughout the world after being taken hostage.

Paul, Keith, German Dirk Hasert and American Donald Hutchings were captured by Kashmiri militants calling themselves Al Faran in July 1995 while trekking in the Himalayas. The campaign is continuing its work on behalf of Paul, a photography student, and is currently attempting to raise money for a trip to Kashmir in November.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.