A company that claimed to have had a deal for the release of Paul and Rachel Chandler scuppered by the British Government's refusal to negotiate with hostage-takers today demanded to be allowed to arrange their release.

“The door is open for them to be released. Somebody needs to pick up the gauntlet and run with it,” said Nick Davis, chairman of the Merchant Maritime Warfare Centre in Dorset.

The not-for-profit company was established last year to offer security advice and support to shipping companies passing through the pirate-infested waters of the Gulf of Aden.

Mr Davis said: “We are the people who know what needs to be done. We can do it, we just need to be allowed to do it.”

Two months ago Mr Davis claimed to have arranged a £100,000 payment for the safe release of the Chandlers, who were seized by pirates in October last year while sailing their yacht, Lynn Rival, from the Seychelles to Tanzania. In an interview at the time Mr Davis accused the Foreign Office of playing “stupid games” and blocking the deal.

The Chandler need to set up a fund that the British people can contribute to and get their relations back with the help on Nick Davis.