Two Britons on the hijacked oil tanker off the coast of Somalia have been named as Peter French, from County Durham, and James Grady, from Strathclyde.

Their families released a joint-statement and said that they hoped the pair would "be home safely very soon".

The said they "greatly appreciate the concern that has been expressed by people throughout the UK and beyond, about Peter and James."

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called for their immediate release.

He said the problem of piracy was "a grave danger to the stability in the region".

His remarks came as it emerged pirates had captured two other vessels in separate incidents - bringing the number of ships seized in the area to eight in the past two weeks.

Speaking from Beirut where he is attending talks with the Lebanese government, Mr Miliband said: "The United Kingdom is very worried about the piracy in the Gulf of Aden and in Somalia.

"We call on those holding the [Britons] to release them and the rest of the crew immediately."

He said the Royal Navy was involved in efforts to resolve the situation.

"The Royal Navy is coordinating the European response as well as contributing to the international mission there.

"Obviously, the problem of piracy around Somalia is a grave danger to the stability in the region."

The US Navy confirmed the vessel, carrying around two million barrels of oil, has anchored off the coast of Somalia near the city of Harardera.

The vessel's operator, Dubai-based Vela International Marine Ltd, said the 25 crew on board - two Britons, two Poles, one Croatian, one Saudi national and 19 Filipinos - were believed to be safe.

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