Kent Gurkhas were among those visiting Downing Street this afternoon to hand back their service medals to the Prime Minister.

Those who retired from active service before 1997 are demanding the Home Office recognises them as UK Citizens rather than deporting back to their native Nepal without a pension.

Long-time Gurkha campaigner and Shepway Liberal Democrat Cllr Peter Carroll joined the servicemen during the poignant handing over of the medals.

Speaking on his way back to Kent from the capital, Cllr Carroll admitted it was an emotional occasion: “I just think it’s a very sad day when people who have served their country for the last 20 to 25 years are being forced into doing things like they’ve done today.”

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg joined the Gurkhas outside the Commons at noon, shortly after addressing the issue during Prime Minister’s Questions today, before witnessing the medal handover at Number 10.

A small media gathering also saw the exchange, where an official received the 50 medals from a Victoria Cross winner who was part of today’s campaign group.

Peter Carroll says support for a change in pension and citizenship rights extends beyond the Liberal Democrats: “Ann Widdicombe’s championed their cause over many years and I know there are many Labour backbenchers who cannot understand their party’s stance on this issue.”