JAILED arms dealer Peter Bleach has had a two-hour meeting in his Indian prison cell with the British High Commissioner.

Sir Rob Young met Bleach for the first time since he was incarcerated seven years ago for his part in an arms drop over West Bengal.

His supporters claimed Sir Rob was putting pressure on the Indian authorities to release the former pupil of St Peter's School, York.

Bleach, who used to live at Fyling-thorpe, near Whitby, has launched his own appeal against his imprisonment, but it was delayed after he developed TB and pneumonia earlier this year.

Deepak Prahladka, his legal representative, said: "Sir Rob said that he had come to see Bleach because he was suffering from TB.

"He also said that, for the last 18 months, the British Government has been seeking Bleach's release on equal treatment as granted to his five Russian co-accused, but the response of the Indian government has been negative so far."

The five Russians were jailed with Bleach for their involvement in smuggling arms to rebels in West Bengal. But they were released following intervention by their own Government.

Bleach claims he has been discriminated against because he was not freed at the same time.

Both Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw have put pressure on the Indian government on Bleach's behalf.

Although he admits his part in an arms smuggling operation, Bleach has always claimed it was done with the knowledge of the authorities, who were attempting to set up a "sting" to capture the mastermind of the drop.