A BRITISH man who spent eight years in jail in India for his role in an illegal arms drop has vowed to continue to try to clear his name.

Peter Bleach, 42, who was arrested with five Latvians in December 1995, after a large consignment of weapons was parachuted into a district in eastern India, flew back to the UK yesterday afternoon.

Mr Bleach, who was freed three days ago after intervention by British Government officials, was met at Heathrow airport by his former partner, Jo Fletcher, and others after he arrived on a British Airways flight from Calcutta, India.

Mr Bleach said he first planned to see his 83-year-old mother, Oceana, who lives in Brompton-by-Sawdon, near Scarborough, in North Yorkshire.

The six were arrested after crates of assault rifles, anti-tank missiles, rocket launchers and ammunition were parachuted into Purulia, in west Bengal.

Police said the weapons were destined for the Anand Marg rebel group.

They were convicted in 2000 of waging war on India, but Mr Bleach has always protested his innocence.

Speaking yesterday, he said: ''I am not guilty. I have never, ever conspired against India and, in the end, I will prove that."