BRITISH diplomats arrived in Bangladesh last night in an attempt to secure the release of a North-East man being held hostage by rebel gunmen.

It is understood a £1.2m ransom is being demanded for the release of Tim Selby, a 28-year-old from West Jesmond in Newcastle.

Mr Selby, who was working as a consultant on a road project, was seized at gunpoint in the Chittagong Hill Tracts area, in the south-east of the country, on Friday, along with two Danes.

It is believed they are being held in the jungle by members of the former Shanti Bahini rebels, who opposed a 1997 peace deal with the government.

Another Briton, David Weston, and the group's Bang-ladeshi driver, were kidnapped but later released unharmed with the ransom note.

The Foreign Office said last night that British and Danish officials have arrived in the region to discuss the hostages' safe release with their Bangladeshi counterparts, and yesterday visited the remote jungle site where Mr Selby was last seen.

"We are doing everything we can in co-operation with the Danes and the Bangladeshi authorities to secure Mr Selby's release," a spokesman said.

He added that officials were in regular contact with Mr Selby's parents, Margaret and Alf, both aged 60.

The hostages, who were working on a contract for a Danish aid agency, were seized at Guniapara, near Rangamati, as they drove between two villages, said a spokesman for the British High Commission in Dhaka.

Mr Selby, who is originally from Oldham, Greater Manchester, where his family still lives, studied at Newcastle University before joining civil engineering firm Batby Ross Silcock in the city.

Friends said that Mr Selby was a veteran of the world's hot-spots, including previous trips to Bangladesh and Armenia.

Mr Weston said of his capture and release: "Our car was stopped by a group of eight men carrying old-fashioned shotguns and pistols. They were not wearing masks. The men, who appeared to be tribesmen, took away two cameras and equipment from us."

Mr Selby's brother Jon, 30, said yesterday that the family was facing an anxious wait for news.

"Tim is very level headed and he's also the kind of guy who would know he's in a bad situation but would try to make the best of it," he said.

"We are glad he's not on his own and he has a bit of western company with him.

"The Foreign Office has been very good. They have been in regular contact with us all the way through yesterday and first thing this morning.

"All we can do is wait for a phone call. We hope to hear some good news as quickly as possible."

The civil engineer is a keen sportsman and his brother hopes his fitness will help him through.

Jon added: "My mum is very upset. At the minute Tim is miles away in the middle of the jungle and nobody knows where he is.

"We are very concerned for his safety but we are trying to stay optimistic.

"Knowing the sort of bloke he is, he wouldn't have walked in there with his eyes shut.

"It is an uncertain time and we are unable to picture where he is.

"It's not something you expect to happen to your family.