A BOLTON church is campaigning for the release of two Christian missionaries who have been charged with sedition in the West African state of The Gambia.

David Fulton, aged 60, and his wife Fiona, aged 46, were arrested last Saturday and have appeared in court.

Mr Fulton works as a chaplain in the mainly Muslim country's army, and first moved to The Gambia 12 years ago.

His missionary work has been given support from Westhoughton Pentecostal Church, which Mr Fulton visited in May to talk to the congregation about the work he was doing.

Pastor Martin Speed: “I have been out to The Gambia and met them there. I saw the work they were doing so the church decided to support them financially. It was a nominal amount to show support and that is our attachment to them and he keeps us informed about the work he is doing.”

The Foreign Office said British consular staff are in contact with the couple, who have pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution accuse the couple of writing letters to individuals and groups abroad to “bring into hatred or contempt, to excite disaffection” against the Gambian president. Mr Speed said the congregation was praying for the couple.

He added: “This is very serious and we are very concerned. We would like people to put pressure on the Government to ask for their release. Sedition is a very serious charge and we will be writing to people asking for their support.”

The couple were granted bail of £125,000, which they have reportedly yet to find.

Mr Fulton, a former army major from Ayrshire, is said to be held at a high security jail outside the capital, Banjul.

Mrs Fulton, originally from Torquay in Devon, is being held with the couple's two-year-old adopted daughter at a police station in Banjul.

A friend said Mrs Fulton is being treated well, but there were concerns for her husband.

“We don't think he's fared quite as well. He's not eating,” the friend told the Press Association.

The friend said the couple's “whole focus has been teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ”.

Mrs Fulton is understood to spend her time looking after terminally ill people and visiting women in their homes and in hospital.

The Gambia is one of Africa's smallest countries and has been ruled by President Yahya Jammeh since 1994, when he seized power.

President Jammeh's government has been criticised by international rights groups for its attitude to civil liberties, especially freedom of the press.

pkeaveny@theboltonnews.co.uk