Afghan crash 'a tragic accident'

27 April 2014 Last updated at 08:37

A fatal helicopter crash in Afghanistan which killed all five UK personnel on board appears to have been a "tragic accident", the MoD has said.

The Lynx helicopter came down in south of the country on Saturday.

Commander Joint Helicopter Command, Maj Gen Richard Felton, said it was a reminder of the risks UK troops still face as they withdraw from Afghanistan.

Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to the men, whose families have been told.

Three of the soldiers and an airman were stationed in Hampshire. The fifth, an Army reservist, was based in London.

It was the first fatal accident of the Afghan conflict involving a UK military helicopter but the third biggest loss of life of British troops in a single incident in the country since the invasion in 2001.

'Poignant reminder'

Maj Gen Felton said: "At this early stage [it] would appear to have been a tragic accident.

"Events like this, whilst mercifully rare, remind us of the risks our personnel face in their work in Afghanistan as we approach the conclusion of the combat mission later this year.

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If the MoD is saying 'it's not been shot down, it's a technical problem', then I certainly believe that"

End Quote Col Richard Kemp Former commander, UK forces

"Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives."

Mr Cameron said the incident "brings home to us all once again how our armed forces continue to put their lives on the line to help the people of Afghanistan.

"I cannot pay high enough tribute to each and every one of them for the job that they do and the sacrifices that they make."

Labour leader Ed Miliband said it was a "tragic and poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by our armed forces in serving our country with bravery and distinction".

Despite Taliban claims its fighters had shot the aircraft down, BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said sources had suggested the cause of the crash may have been "technical problems".

She said the crash site - close to the border with Pakistan - had also led to speculation that the helicopter could have been taking part in a special forces mission.

A former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, Col Richard Kemp, said: "The Taliban are masters of propaganda - they claim huge numbers of things that haven't actually happened.

"Of course it's a feather in their hat if they've managed to shoot down a British helicopter but if the MoD is saying, 'It's not been shot down, it's a technical problem,' then I certainly believe that."

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live earlier he said retrieving the wreckage and ensuring the men's bodies could be repatriated would be a hazardous operation.

"This is a territory the Taliban operate in fairly extensively so it will require a large number of troops and they themselves will be at considerable risk."

'Exceptional record'

The helicopter was a Westland Lynx Mk 9, used in Afghanistan for reconnaissance, evacuating casualties and moving UK troops.

The deaths bring the number of British forces killed in the conflict in Afghanistan to 453.

Defence analyst Paul Beaver said the Lynx helicopter had an "exceptional record".

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Preliminary results of the crash investigation will probably be announced very soon, according to defence analyst Paul Beaver

"If enemy action is not suspected, which is what the MoD is saying, then you have to look at whether this might well be weather-related," Mr Beaver told the BBC.

Earlier he told BBC Breakfast he did not envisage other Lynx helicopters being grounded "because that notice would have gone out already".

Three of the soldiers on board the helicopter were from the Army Air Corps, based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire.

A fourth member of the crew was serving with the Royal Air Force and was also based at Odiham, while the fifth man was an Army reservist from 3 Military Intelligence Battalion, in London.

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UKIP man defends Lenny Henry tweet

27 April 2014 Last updated at 02:04

A UKIP candidate has defended tweets in which he said comedian Lenny Henry should emigrate to a "black country" and compared Islam to the Third Reich.

William Henwood, who is standing in a council election, said he did not think the messages were offensive.

He tweeted after Henry said there should be more black and ethnic minority people in creative industries.

UKIP said it was a "non-racist, non-sectarian party whose members are expected to uphold these values".

Mr Henwood told BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins: "I think if black people come to this country and don't like mixing with white people why are they here? If he (Henry) wants a lot of blacks around go and live in a black country."

On another occasion Mr Henwood tweeted: "Islam reminds me of the 3rd Reich Strength through violence against the citizens."

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One has to question why the other parties are spending hours behaving like secret police and trawling through the social media of UKIP candidates"

End Quote UKIP spokesman

Mr Henwood, who is standing in next month's local council elections in Enfield, north London, later declined to be interviewed on camera.

Roger Helmer, a UKIP MEP for the East Midlands who is standing for re-election, said Mr Henwood's comments did not represent his party and were only being reported because of a campaign against it.

Mr Helmer told the BBC: "We have an individual who has made totally unacceptable comments but you will find individuals like that in all parties, and behaviour like that in all parties.

"I understand why the media and the other parties want to focus on those particular claims about UKIP.

"We will deal with this appropriately when the party has had time to look at the facts and in the meantime we are quite clear that we are not a racist party and we do not accept comments of that kind."

'Duly investigated'

A UKIP spokesman said: "Any breach of our rules will be duly investigated and action will be taken.

"However one has to question why the other parties are spending hours behaving like secret police and trawling through the social media of UKIP candidates who are everyday men and women, rather than actually doing politics.

"Perhaps if they did they would be better able to tackle us on policy, rather than having to rely on smear campaigns to try to undermine UKIP's increasing popularity.

"Were we to return the favour we would find an even greater wealth of embarrassment and disgrace in the other three parties' ranks to also spread across the media."

In the past week UKIP has been attacked by its political opponents for featuring an Irish actor on an election poster about British workers losing out to foreign labour.

And the party has also suspended a council candidate in south London for sharing "repellent" opinions on Twitter.

Builder Andre Lampitt, who featured in a party election broadcast, reportedly tweeted criticism of Islam and Nigerians.

Despite the attacks, a poll for a Sunday paper suggested UKIP was in the lead in the European election contest despite a week of controversies, including criticism of its campaigning and comments by activists.

The party recorded 31% support in the YouGov survey for the Sunday Times, three points ahead of Labour with the Conservatives third on 19%.

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South Korean PM resigns over ferry

27 April 2014 Last updated at 06:01

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Chung Hong-won said resignation was "the right thing to do"

South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won has resigned amid criticism of the government's handling of the sinking of a passenger ferry.

He said the "cries of the families of those missing still keep me up at night". Mr Chung will stay in his post until the disaster is under control.

The Sewol ferry with 476 people aboard - most of them students and teachers - sank off South Korea on 16 April.

Officials have confirmed 187 died, but scores are missing presumed drowned.

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On behalf of the government, I apologise for many problems from the prevention of the accident to the early handling of the disaster"

End Quote South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won

Furious relatives have repeatedly criticised what they see as the slowness of the recovery operation.

"The right thing for me to do is to take responsibility and resign as a person who is in charge of the cabinet," Mr Chung said in a brief televised statement.

"On behalf of the government, I apologise for many problems from the prevention of the accident to the early handling of the disaster."

He added: "There have been so many varieties of irregularities that have continued in every corner of our society and practices that have gone wrong. I hope these deep-rooted evils get corrected this time and this kind of accident never happens again."

President Park Geun-hye accepted her prime minister's resignation but did not set a last day in office. The PM would leave his post once the ferry disaster was under control, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.

An opposition party spokesman described it as "thoroughly irresponsible" and a "cowardly evasion" of responsibility.

The day after the disaster, Mr Chung was booed and someone threw a water bottle at him when he visited grieving parents.

Divers were battling atrocious weather conditions on Sunday as they tried to retrieve more bodies trapped in the sunken ferry.

A coastguard spokesman said heavy seas whipped up by strong winds were badly complicating recovery efforts.

"The situation is very difficult due to the weather, but we are continuing search efforts, using the occasional calmer periods," the spokesman said, adding that 93 divers would take part in Sunday's operation.

All 15 crew members involved in the navigation of the ferry are now in custody, facing criminal negligence charges.

Reasons unclear

On Friday, divers found 48 bodies of students wearing lifejackets in a single room on the vessel meant to accommodate just over 30 people.

The group was crammed into a dormitory and all were wearing lifejackets, a South Korean Navy officer said.

The presence of so many victims in the cabin suggested many had run into the room when the ship tilted, correspondents said.

The reason for the disaster is still unclear.

But prosecutors are said to be investigating whether modifications made to the ferry made it more unstable.

Factors under consideration include a turn made at about the time the ship began to list, as well as wind, ocean currents and the freight it was carrying.

Reports have emerged indicating that the ship's sleeping cabins were refitted some time between 2012 and 2013, which experts say may have inadvertently affected the balance of the vessel.

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Kerry urges Russia to help observers

27 April 2014 Last updated at 07:25

US Secretary of State John Kerry has urged Russia to do all it can to help release European military observers abducted in eastern Ukraine.

In a phone call with his Russian counterpart, Mr Kerry also expressed concern about "provocative Russian troop movements" near Ukraine's border.

Pro-Russia militia continue to occupy official buildings in a dozen eastern cities, defying the government in Kiev.

EU diplomats are to meet on Monday to discuss fresh sanctions against Russia.

The G7 group of economic powers has also agreed to intensify sanctions against Russia over Ukraine.

Speaking on a visit to Malaysia on Sunday, US President Barack Obama stressed it was important to take further steps to send "a message" to Moscow that its destabilising actions in eastern Ukraine must stop.

But Mr Obama stressed that "a diplomatic path to resolve this issue" was still possible.

The West is accusing Moscow of leading a secessionist revolt in eastern Ukraine after it annexed Crimea last month. Russia strongly denies the claim.

Russia said on Saturday it would "take all possible steps" to secure the release of eight observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) who were seized and accused of espionage by pro-Russia gunmen.

The group - believed to be military observers from Germany, Denmark, Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic - is being held along with several Ukrainian army personnel in the city of Sloviansk.

Those holding the observers have said they could be exchanged for prisoners held by Ukrainian forces. However, Kiev says they are being used as human shields.

The US state department said Mr Kerry "expressed continued concern that Russia's provocative troop movements on Ukraine's border, its support for separatists and its inflammatory rhetoric are undermining stability, security and unity in Ukraine".

Mr Kerry also "urged Russian support without preconditions for the efforts of the OSCE and the government of Ukraine to liberate the... inspectors and their Ukrainian guides," the statement added.

For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine must end military operations in the east of the country as part of urgent measures to defuse the crisis.

Ukrainian troops have carried out a number of raids to try to regain control of official buildings.

The crisis began when protesters toppled pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February and has since plunged East-West relations to their lowest point since the Cold War.

Russia has tens of thousands of troops deployed along its side of the border with Ukraine and has said it will act if its interests are threatened.

On Saturday, the G7 praised Ukraine for acting with restraint in dealing with the "armed bands" that had occupied government buildings.

But the group, which comprises the US, UK, Germany, Japan, France, Canada and Italy, condemned Russia's "increasingly concerning rhetoric and ongoing threatening military manoeuvres."

The G7 said it was committed to intensifying sanctions on Russia, ahead of Ukrainian presidential elections next month.

The US and EU already have asset freezes and travel bans in place targeting a number of Russian individuals and firms accused of playing a part in the annexation of Crimea.

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Britain is now 'post-Christian'

27 April 2014 Last updated at 08:54

Britain is now a "post-Christian" country, the former Archbishop of Canterbury has said.

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Rowan Williams said Britain was not a nation of believers and that the era of widespread worship was over.

It comes after Prime Minister David Cameron said people in Britain should be confident of its status as "a Christian country".

Deputy PM Nick Clegg said the Church and state should be separated.

Writing in the Church Times, Mr Cameron said Christians made a difference to people's lives and should be more evangelical about it.

This prompted a group of 50 public figures to write a letter insisting that the UK was "a non-religious" and "plural" society and that to claim otherwise fostered "alienation and division".

'Committed believers'

Lord Williams, who retired from being the leader of the Church of England in 2012, said: "If I say that this is a post-Christian nation, that doesn't mean necessarily post-Christian. It means the cultural memory is still quite strongly Christian."

He added: "But [Britain is] post-Christian in the sense that habitual practice for most of the population is not taken for granted."

"A Christian nation can sound like a nation of committed believers and we are not that. Equally, we are not a nation of dedicated secularists.

"It's a matter of defining terms. A Christian country as a nation of believers? No.

"A Christian country in the sense of still being very much saturated by this vision of the world and shaped by it? Yes."

The current Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, has supported Mr Cameron.

On his blog he wrote it was a "historical fact (perhaps unwelcome to some, but true)" that UK law, ethics and culture were based on its teachings and traditions.

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'Plebgate' officer in £200,000 claim

27 April 2014 Last updated at 09:33

The police officer at the centre of the "plebgate" row is seeking damages from former Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell of up to £200,000, court papers show.

PC Toby Rowland is suing Mr Mitchell for suggesting the officer was not telling the truth about the dispute at the gates of Downing Street in 2012.

Mr Mitchell was accused of swearing at police and calling them plebs - allegations he has denied.

The Conservative MP resigned as chief whip in the wake of the controversy.

In documents submitted to the High Court, lawyers for PC Rowland justify the claim on the grounds that his reputation has been damaged by Mr Mitchell's remarks and he suffered "great distress, humiliation and upset".

He is seeking damages including "aggravated damages for libel, and if appropriate, slander".

However, even if the officer were to win the case there is no guarantee he would receive the maximum amount.

Stating case

BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the latest twist in this "extraordinary saga" was the revelation of the level of damages that PC Rowland was seeking.

Legal sources have confirmed that the upper limit is £200,000.

In a libel action brought by Mr Mitchell against the Sun - the first newspaper to report the Downing Street incident - he is believed to be claiming damages of up to £150,000.

Stating his case in detail for the first time since the incident, PC Rowland insists Mr Mitchell erupted after being blocked from cycling out of the pedestrian gate outside Number 10.

PC Rowland claims that in their conversation when Mr Mitchell telephoned him to apologise there was the "clear implication he admitted using the said words".

PC Rowland is demanding up to £200,000 and has asked for an injunction to "restrain" Mr Mitchell and those acting on his behalf from repeating the claim that the officer's version of the exchange was fabricated.

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Vatican declares two popes saints

27 April 2014 Last updated at 10:23

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LIVE: Watch the ceremony at the Vatican

Huge crowds gathered in Vatican City to see a historic ceremony where two popes - John Paul II and John XXIII - were declared saints.

A Mass co-celebrated by Pope Francis and his predecessor Benedict was watched by roughly one million pilgrims and a vast TV and radio audience.

Nearly 100 foreign delegations are attending, including royal dignitaries and heads of state and government.

It is the first time two popes have been canonised at the same time.

Correspondents say the move is being seen as an attempt to unite conservative and reformist camps within the Roman Catholic Church.

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Analysis

In all its 2,000 years of history, the Catholic Church has never seen a day quite like this. Two popes being recognised as saints at the same ceremony. And this being presided over by two living Popes - Francis and his retired predecessor, Benedict.

The event has drawn a mass of believers from all across the Catholic world. They have filled St Peter's Square and the avenue that leads to it. And now that great throng of the faithful awaits the moment when Catholicism's highest honour is bestowed on John XXlll and the Polish Pope, John Paul ll.

In his sermon, Pope Francis paid tribute to the two new saints as "men of courage".

"They were priests, bishops and popes of the 20th Century," he said.

"They lived through the tragic events of that century, but they were not overwhelmed by them. For them, God was more powerful."

Special bus, train and boat services ferried many thousands of pilgrims to Rome for the two-hour ceremony, which started at 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT).

Some had bagged places to sleep overnight as close as possible to St Peter's Square, hoping to be among the first in when it opened to the public.

Giant screens were set up in nearby streets and elsewhere in the city for those unable to get into the square.

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"Start Quote

"We've been counting down the days. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience"

End Quote Polish pilgrim in Rome

"We've been counting down the days. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said one pilgrim from Poland, John Paul II's home country.

"We're already hoarse from singing," he told AFP.

The Vatican confirmed on Saturday that 87-year-old Benedict XVI - now officially titled Pope Emeritus - would make a rare public appearance alongside his successor.

Benedict XVI became the first pope to resign for 600 years when he quit for health reasons a year ago.

Papal politics

The process of saint-making is usually long and very costly.

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Watch Pope Francis declare John Paul II and John XXIII as new saints

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Cormac Murphy-O'Connor talks about Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II

But John Paul II, whose 26-year reign ended in 2005, has been fast-tracked to sainthood in just nine years.

Many among the huge crowds that gathered as he lay dying cried out "santo subito", which means "sainthood now".

By contrast Italian-born John XXIII, known as the Good Pope after his 1958-63 papacy, had his promotion to full sainthood decided suddenly and very recently by Pope Francis.

The BBC's David Willey in Rome says there was a political dimension to this.

By canonising both John XXIII - the pope who set off the reform movement - and John Paul II - the pope who applied the brakes - Francis has skilfully deflected any possible criticism that he could be taking sides.

Are you in Rome? Are you attending the ceremony? Tell us what is happening by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject heading 'Rome'. Or send your photos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk.

Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.

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All S Korea ferry crew 'in custody'

26 April 2014 Last updated at 08:15

All 15 crew members involved in the navigation of the ill-fated South Korean passenger ferry Sewol are now reportedly in custody, facing criminal negligence charges.

The prosecution requested arrest warrants for four additional crew members. Eleven others, including the captain, had been detained earlier.

The ferry with 476 people on board sank off South Korea on 16 April.

Divers have recovered 183 bodies, but scores are missing presumed drowned.

Many of the victims were students and teachers from Danwon high school, south of Seoul.

The ferry sank on a trip from the port of Incheon to the island of Jeju.

'Incredible loss'

In the latest move on Saturday, the arrests warrants were issued for two helmsmen and two members of the steering crew.

Prosecutor Yang Jung-jin, of the joint investigation team, said the four crew members were taken into custody late on Friday, the Associated Press reported.

The 15 crew members are facing charges of criminal negligence and of failing to help passengers, the prosecution says.

On Friday, divers found 48 bodies of students wearing lifejackets in a single room on the vessel meant to accommodate just over 30 people.

The group was crammed into a dormitory and all were wearing lifejackets, a South Korean Navy officer said.

The presence of so many victims in the cabin suggested many had run into the room when the ship tilted, correspondents said.

The head of the operation to retrieve bodies said he had "no idea" how long the ship search would take.

Furious relatives have repeatedly criticised the speed of the recovery operation.

On a visit to Seoul on Friday, US President Barack Obama expressed his condolences for South Korea's "incredible loss" and offered America's solidarity.

"So many were young students with their entire lives ahead of them," Mr Obama said. "I can only imagine what the parents are going through at the moment - the incredible heartache."

The South Korean government has said it is "mobilising all available resources" towards the rescue effort.

The prosecutors are also said to be investigating whether modifications made to the ferry made it more unstable.

Factors under consideration include a turn made around the time the ship began to list, as well as wind, ocean currents and the freight it was carrying.

Reports have emerged indicating that the ship's sleeping cabins were refitted some time between 2012 and 2013, which experts say may have inadvertently affected the balance of the boat.

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G7 'to intensify Russia sanctions'

26 April 2014 Last updated at 10:25

The G7 group of economic powers has agreed to intensify sanctions on Russia over its actions in Ukraine.

A G7 statement gave no detail of the sanctions, but US officials said they could announce measures by Monday.

The West accuses Russia of leading a secession rebellion in Ukraine's east, months after it annexed Crimea. Moscow denies the allegations.

Meanwhile, negotiators are trying to secure the release of international observers seized by pro-Russia gunmen.

Forces in the city of Sloviansk are still holding the eight European military observers and several Ukrainian army personnel who they seized on Friday and accuse of espionage.

The observers were taking part in a mission linked to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Jets 'violated air space'

Rebel militia continue to occupy official buildings in a dozen eastern cities, defying the government in Kiev.

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Analysis

It's all reminiscent of a game of poker, with Moscow intent on raising the stakes and G7 leaders forced to match the Russians step-for-step.

The G7 statement is unequivocal - it blames Russia for failing to implement the Geneva accord that offered a diplomatic path out of this crisis. Accordingly, Moscow has now been hit with more Western economic sanctions, the details to be revealed in a matter of days. The G7 is still holding in reserve broader sanctions against the Russian banking or financial sectors. That would be a last-ditch threat to try to avert further military action against Ukraine.

But with Russian aircraft flying into Ukrainian air-space and Russian ground exercises under way there is an ever present danger of this crisis escalating out of control. Moscow will now be weighing up the likely cost of sanctions, set against the central importance of its strategic interests in Ukraine.

Russia has tens of thousands of troops deployed along its side of the border with Ukraine and has said it would act if its interests were threatened.

The US accused Russian jets of violating Ukraine's airspace on Friday in a further sign of escalation.

Pentagon spokesman Col Steven Warren said Russian aircraft had entered Ukrainian airspace several times in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the G7 praised Ukraine for acting with restraint in dealing with the "armed bands" that had occupied government buildings.

But the group, which includes the US, UK, Germany, Japan, France, Canada and Italy, condemned Russia's "increasingly concerning rhetoric and ongoing threatening military manoeuvres".

"Given the urgency of securing the opportunity for a successful and peaceful democratic vote next month in Ukraine's presidential elections, we have committed to act urgently to intensify targeted sanctions and measures to increase the costs of Russia's actions," said the statement.

The US and EU already has assets freezes and travel bans in place target a number of Russian individuals and firms accused of playing a part in the annexation of Crimea.

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Russia has demonstrated its firepower close to Ukraine's border, reports Jane-Frances Kelly

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Russia has denied involvement in the seizures of official buildings by pro-Russians in eastern Ukraine

Maps 'showed checkpoints'

On Friday, Ukraine's interior ministry said armed separatists had seized OSCE representatives, who were believed to be military observers from Germany, Denmark, Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic.

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Crisis timeline

• Nov 2013: President Viktor Yanukovych abandons an EU deal, sparking protests
• 20-21 Feb 2014: Dozens killed in Kiev clashes
• 22 Feb: Mr Yanukovych flees
• 27-28 Feb: Pro-Russian gunmen seize key buildings in Crimea
• 16 Mar: Crimea voters choose to secede in disputed referendum; Russia later absorbs region
• Apr: Pro-Russia activists take over official buildings and police stations in eastern Ukraine

Pro-Russian leaders in Sloviansk confirmed the bus had been stopped near the town of Sloviansk and said they were checking the identities of those on board.

The self-proclaimed mayor of Sloviansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, said at least one passenger had been carrying maps showing separatist checkpoints in the area, which suggested "their involvement in espionage".

Last weekend, Mr Ponomaryov broadcast an appeal to President Putin asking for Russian troops to protect the city from "fascists" after three of his men died in a gunfight.

Russia's OSCE envoy Andrei Kelin promised to take "all possible steps" to free the representatives, according to Russian media reports .

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Thatcher warned of WW2 codebreaker

26 April 2014 Last updated at 00:25

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was warned a World War Two codebreaker had become a security threat 40 years after his "influential" work.

Gordon Welchman's team at Bletchley Park improved the Enigma code-breaking machine, widely credited as shortening the war by two years.

Newly released papers show that in 1982 Mrs Thatcher was told of the threat when Mr Welchman wrote a book.

The Hut Six Story included details that were "still classified", she was told.

Cabinet secretary Sir Robert Armstrong's memo to the Tory leader is among documents that have been given to the Bletchley Park Trust after being held in Mr Welchman's son's attic for 26 years.

"The book goes into very considerable technical detail about the method developed for this work," Sir Robert said.

Mr Welchman, who died in 1985, devised a system to deal with thousands of messages a day sent by the German Enigma machine.

The Cambridge graduate saw that the Bombe code-breaking machine needed enhancing and drew up a production line system which became the centre's wartime working model.

His biographer, Dr Joel Greenberg, said this had been "revolutionary" and made him one of the centre's "most important figures".

In 1941, Mr Welchman and four other men known as The Wicked Uncles - including Alan Turing - personally delivered an influential letter to Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill asking for more resources for Bletchley Park.

Mr Welchman then became the head of Hut Six, which was responsible for breaking German Army and Air Force Enigma ciphers, and was the first to detail the work of the codebreakers in his 1982 book.

The book was not banned but Mr Welchman lost his US security clearance and was forbidden to discuss his book or his wartime work, with the media.

Three years after its publication, a letter was sent from GCHQ Director Sir Peter Marychurch accusing Mr Welchman of damaging security.

The trust said the documents and possessions would help tell the story of a man whose work was "crucial" to Bletchley Park's success but of which "most people have never heard".

Mr Welchman's daughter said: "I was unable to throw away almost anything relating to my father and I'm enormously grateful that someone else was interested in him."

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