British Navy warship rescues troops and civilians
The first of three Royal Navy warships began rescuing Britons stranded by the air chaos today.
HMS Albion came alongside at Santander in northern Spain this morning and started loading about 250 troops and 200 civilians to take them back to the UK, the Ministry of Defence said.
The troops, who are returning home after serving in Afghanistan, include soldiers from 3rd Battalion The Rifles, members of the RAF and medics.
HMS Albion, an amphibious landing ship based at Devonport Naval Base in Plymouth, is expected to arrive back in Portsmouth tomorrow, the MoD said.
Another two Navy vessels, aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal and commando helicopter carrier HMS Ocean, have also been deployed to rescue stranded British travellers from the Continent.
British government officials are due to announce where they will dock later today.
