A French couple have been ransomed for £560,000 by armed Somali pirates after being kidnapped from their 50ft yacht, off the coast of Somalia.

Jean-Yves and Bernadette Delanne were forced off Carre d”As not far from the notorious fishing village of Eyl where other pirated craft are moored.

The pair were on passage from Australia to France. Their daughter, Alizee, has spoken to them via satellite phone. The French Navy is on standby to intervene.