A group of former Gurkhas have won a landmark High Court case overturning immigration laws which barred them from automatically settling in the UK.

The immigration rules had disqualified members of the elite Nepali unit who retired before 1997, when the Gurkhas' base was moved from Hong Kong to the UK, from the automatic right to stay in the country.

Making his ruling yesterday Mr Justice Blake said the Gurkhas' long service, achievements in battle and loyalty to the Crown should allow them to stay.

The Home Office has pledged to review the cases of 2,000 Gurkhas who retired before 1997. Their lawyer Martin Howe, told the BBC: "This is a victory that restores honour and dignity to deserving soldiers who faithfully served in Her Majesty's armed forces.

"It's a victory for common sense; a victory for fairness; and a victory for the British sense of what is right."

The judgement brings the curtain down on a long and vocal campaign by Gurkha veterans which has seen several peitions to Parliament and enlisted the support of actress Joanna Lumley, whose father served alongside the revered regiment.