John Cantlie: Family issues appeal for 'direct contact' with Islamic State

The sister of British hostage John Cantlie has appealed for ''direct contact" with the Islamic State (IS) militants holding him.

The journalist, who was kidnapped in Syria in 2012, has appeared in several videos released by IS.

In a statement, his sister Jessica said it was "simply not accurate" that there had been no attempts to engage with IS.

''We strongly challenge those holding John to return to your previously opened channel...so that in keeping with everyone's wishes, we can restart dialogue,'' she said.

Jessica Cantlie said she was speaking on behalf of her terminally-ill father, Paul, who recently spoke of his "despair and helplessness" at his son's plight in a separate appeal to IS.