A CARGO plane carrying the first consignment of Britain's humanitarian aid package for Afghanistan left Kent's London Manston airport last night. The DC8 plane took off headed for Mashhad in Iran at 9.30pm.

It was chartered by the Department for International Development. It was given clearance to land near to the Afghan border after being delayed on Monday night.

The plane is loaded with around 400 tents capable of sheltering 15 to 20 people each.

It is thought that a second cargo plane may take off on the same journey before the weekend.