‘Behind enemy lines’: Ex-Royal Marine accuses MoD of blocking Afghanistan evacuation flight

Ex-Royal Marine Pen Farthing has claimed he has been “left behind enemy lines” in Afghanistan after his evacuation flight which he privately funded was allegedly blocked from leaving Kabul.

Pen Farthing, who has since set up a charity, has claimed that the government doesn’t want to be seen to be bringing back animals before people.

Farthing had been told he had a seat on an evacuation flight for himself, but is keen to get his 25 staff plus their families out of the country – and some of the animals he looks after if there is space.