Five Britons return to UK from Zimbabwe

THE first Britons to be given help to leave Zimbabwe under a government scheme have arrived in the UK, local government minister John Healey has said.

The five people will resettle permanently near family or friends after arriving in the UK over the weekend, Mr Healey told MPs in a written statement.

The government has received 61 applications under the scheme. The minister said: "The cross-government scheme, which is being co-ordinated by Communities and Local Government, was opened three months ago to help a small group of British people in Zimbabwe who are 70 or over or who are vulnerable because of their care needs or medical conditions but are unable to make their own arrangements to resettle in the UK."

Yesterday, The Scotsman reported that former Fife coal-miner Fred Noble, 78, is to fly back to Scotland this week, having lived in Zimbabwe for 51 years.