LAST night, the first flight carrying evacuated UK nationals and Afghans landed in Oxfordshire.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft landed at RAF Brize Norton, near Carterton, at about 11pm on Tuesday night.

It is one of a number of flights out of the Afghanistan capital Kabul which are expected to arrive in the UK over the coming days.

Witney Gazette: A plane lands at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshsire, carrying British nationals and Afghans from Kabal in Afghanistan. Picture date: Tuesday August 17, 2021.A plane lands at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshsire, carrying British nationals and Afghans from Kabal in Afghanistan. Picture date: Tuesday August 17, 2021.

Witney Gazette: A plane lands at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshsire, carrying British nationals and Afghans from Kabal in Afghanistan. Picture date: Tuesday August 17, 2021.A plane lands at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshsire, carrying British nationals and Afghans from Kabal in Afghanistan. Picture date: Tuesday August 17, 2021.

The flight arrived after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the UK would help Afghans fleeing the Taliban by giving some 20,000 refugees sanctuary in the UK over the coming years.

Witney Gazette: A plane lands at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshsire, carrying British nationals and Afghans from Kabal in Afghanistan. Picture date: Tuesday August 17, 2021.A plane lands at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshsire, carrying British nationals and Afghans from Kabal in Afghanistan. Picture date: Tuesday August 17, 2021.

Witney Gazette: British nationals and Afghan evacuees depart a flight from Afghanistan at RAF Brize Norton. Picture date: Tuesday August 17, 2021.British nationals and Afghan evacuees depart a flight from Afghanistan at RAF Brize Norton. Picture date: Tuesday August 17, 2021.

Witney Gazette: A passenger gives a thumbs up after arriving on an evacuation flight from Afghanistan at RAF Brize Norton. Picture date: Tuesday August 17, 2021.A passenger gives a thumbs up after arriving on an evacuation flight from Afghanistan at RAF Brize Norton. Picture date: Tuesday August 17, 2021.

Witney Gazette: British nationals and Afghan evacuees depart a flight from Afghanistan at RAF Brize Norton. Picture date: Tuesday August 17, 2021.British nationals and Afghan evacuees depart a flight from Afghanistan at RAF Brize Norton. Picture date: Tuesday August 17, 2021.

Witney Gazette: British nationals and Afghan evacuees depart a flight from Afghanistan at RAF Brize Norton. Picture date: Tuesday August 17, 2021.British nationals and Afghan evacuees depart a flight from Afghanistan at RAF Brize Norton. Picture date: Tuesday August 17, 2021.

Royal Navy Vice Admiral Sir Ben Key said on Tuesday British armed forces were working to evacuate about 6,000 people from Afghanistan via Kabul.

He told Sky News: “How long have we got to do it? We don’t really know, so every day we are working as hard as we can to bring as many forward into this pipeline as we possibly can.

“Clearly there is a dynamic political situation running across the city.

“We make no assumptions about that other than we really can’t afford to pause and wait.”

Witney Gazette: British nationals and Afghan evacuees depart a flight from Afghanistan at RAF Brize Norton. Picture date: Tuesday August 17, 2021.British nationals and Afghan evacuees depart a flight from Afghanistan at RAF Brize Norton. Picture date: Tuesday August 17, 2021.