Relief as some Britons return from Thailand

SOME Britons returned home from strife-torn Thailand yesterday, but thousands of tourists remain stranded.

While some countries laid on planes to get their nationals home, Bill Rammell, the Foreign Office minister, appeared to rule out using government-chartered flights, saying that the two main Thai airports were still shut due to anti-government protests.

Thai Airways and the Dubai-based carrier Emirates were among airlines laying on extra flights from airports not affected by the protests that have rocked the country in recent days.

Aircraft stuck at the main Bangkok airport were allowed to leave, but some were pulling away empty. Meanwhile, the protesters – members of the People's Alliance for Democracy – stressed they would not allow airports to reopen until the government stood down.

A spokeswoman from the UK travel organisation Abta said: "It is hoped that some UK tourists might be able to leave from Utapao military airport, while Emirates are taking people to London from Chiang Mai airport in Thailand via Dubai."

Package tours to Thailand have been suspended, as have British Airways daily services between London and Bangkok.