Dozens of oil workers are preparing to return to the UK after being airlifted to safety from the Libyan desert in a dramatic military rescue mission by British special forces.
Two RAF Hercules transport planes swooped into the country and picked up 150 civilians - mostly Britons - from a number of remote landing strips amid fast-deteriorating security conditions.
As well as the mission deep into the North African state, the final Government-chartered flight out of Tripoli delivered another 53 Britons back to Gatwick Airport late last night.
Among them were the staff of the British Embassy in Tripoli which has been closed - with representation being temporarily taken over by Turkey.