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

It was chartered by the Department for International Development. The plane was given clearance to land near to the Afghan border after being delayed on Monday night. The aircraft is loaded with more than 400 tents capable of sheltering 15 to 20 people each.

A second cargo plane is expected to leave the Kent airport before the weekend.