Up to 400 retired Gurkhas have been arriving in Liverpool to demonstrate as part of bid to get UK citizenship. The soldiers, from Nepal, arrived in the city on Wednesday afternoon, many carrying fluorescent placards with "Equal Rights for Gurkhas" on them.

Despite having fought as part of the British Army for almost 200 years, they are barred from British citizenship.

After a demonstration outside the Home Office immigration offices, a group were due to meet government officials.

Before the demonstration got under way, Bidur Pakrin, vice chairman of the Gurkhas' Welfare Society, said they were confident about the demands.

"We hope to get the answer we want to hear, which is yes you're granted citizenship," he told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"Or [if not] in a few months we will have the right answer we want to hear - that's as we expect to hear from the Home Office."

Regimental tie

The soldiers, who gathered at the Home Office's Immigration and Nationality Directorate in Water Street, were being supported by other ex-servicemen and members of the public.

Many of the Gurkhas were dressed in their regimental tie and wore the medals they have won during their service.

A group of about five of them were due to meet senior Home Office officials later on Wednesday to discuss their citizenship demands.

The regiment now has around 3,500 men.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/3616892.stm