Jubilant Gurkha veterans are celebrating winning a landmark ruling in the High Court.

Former Gurkhas - Nepali soldiers in the British Army - have been campaigning for equal rights for many months and at last they feel the tide has turned in their favour, after a senior judge forced the Government into action.

Lord Justice Blake ruled on Thursday that the Government must publish new plans for Gurkhas who retired before 1997. Not only that, but it must do so before April 24.

Gurkhas who retired before 1997 get one sixth of the pension of soldiers who retired afterwards and have no right to reside in, or even visit, the UK.

Their plight was taken up locally by Liberal Democrats Peter Carroll and Lynne Beaumont and a case was taken to the High Court by human rights solicitors Howe and Co.

A senior partner at the firm, David Enright, said: "We had more than 500 Gurkhas and 200 other supporters here today and it was a triumph. The court ordered the Government to set out a new policy and publish it by April 24.

"Back in September the court told the Government its policy was unfair but several Gurkhas, such as Dhim Prasad Gurung, have died waiting for justice.

"It was meant to have reviewed their cases by December - it didn’t and we were forced to go back to court and get an order to force them into action.

"Now the Government says it will review 80 per cent of the other Gurkhas’ cases by June 13. The only caveat is that we don’t know what will be in the Government’s new policy."

Actress Joanna Lumley had taken up a campaigning role on behalf of the Gurkhas, as her father was a major in the regiment.

She said: "The way that successive Governments have treated Gurkhas who retired before 1997 is truly offensive and a stain on our national character. The almost spiritual reaction to our campaign shows beyond doubt that the Gurkhas are loved and will be welcomed by the people of Britain."

Mr Enright added: "It has been a huge privilege to represent them - a chance to be on the side of the angels. This is the case of a lifetime. The only question is why this was necessary in the first place."

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