Cash airlift for troops in Cyprus

A plane carrying one million euro (£852,600) has been sent to Cyprus as a "contingency measure" to help troops and their families.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the RAF flight will provide people with emergency loans in the event that cash machines and debit cards stop working completely.

The MoD said it is determined to minimise the impact of the Cyprus banking crisis on "our people" and it will consider further shipments if required.

The announcement comes amid moves by the Government to re-assure British troops posted to Cyprus that they will be fully compensated for any plans to raid their savings.

The MoD said that as well as sending out the emergency fund, it is asking personnel if they would prefer this and future months' salaries to be paid into UK bank accounts.

It said in a statement: "An RAF flight left for Cyprus this afternoon with one million euro on board as a contingency measure to provide military personnel and their families with emergency loans in the event that cash machines and debit cards stop working completely.

"We will keep this under review and consider further shipments if required.

"The MoD is proactively approaching personnel to ask if they want their March, and future months' salaries paid into UK bank accounts, rather than Cypriot accounts.

"We're determined to do everything we can to minimise the impact of the Cyprus banking crisis on our people."