A Scots mum and her kids have made it safely out of war-torn Sudan after a terrifying journey to the evacuation point.
Jennifer McLellan, a teacher from Islay, and her four children managed to make it onto one of a series of military flights rescuing UK citizens amid a ceasefire around capital Khartoum.
But the 36-year-old had to leave her husband Mohamed, known as Mo, behind as he returned to help his mother.
Jennifer’s uncle Donald Gillies, 59, said the family were now “safe in Cyprus” after boarding a flight in the early hours.
He said: "Mo's courage must be commended, to drive his family to safety, then return alone along the same dangerous route to be with his mum.
"We are ever indebted to Mo and all those that have helped."
On Tuesday night, Jennifer told the Record how they made a hazardous dash to the airbase which unfolded “like a movie”.
They were met with gunfire after their tyre blew out and were also forced to pay demands for hundreds of pounds to get them to safety.
A huge UK rescue mission got under way in the African country just hours after the terrified mum revealed how she felt “abandoned” by the British authorities amid the power struggle between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary force.
Describing the family’s horror 40-mile journey from the house where they had been holed up in the suburn of Aj Jaraf, Jennifer said: “We drove through a rough area to cut the journey in half and our tyre blew out.
“We were on a dangerous road. We tried to call many people to help but no one has fuel.
“Two young men on in a bus took the opportunity to broker themselves a deal – 200,000 SDG (more than £300) to drive us and my brother-in-law to the base.”
When the family came across a closed bridge their drivers took a detour which led them into danger.
Jennifer said: “The local boys took us through neighbourhoods and we were met by fleeing Rapid Support Forces trucks firing shots as they went. We drove so fast.
“We finally got to the bridge and made our way through checkpoints. It was like a movie.”
Jennifer slammed the Government on Monday after British diplomats were removed from the capital, saying the 4000 estimated citizens left behind had been offered little advice or support with fuel and food supplies low.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the UK was coordinating the evacuation of its nationals as a 72-hour US-brokered ceasefire between Sudan’s armed forces and Rapid Support Forces got under way.
The US and Saudi Arabia mediated the truce following two days of intense negotiations. But the two sides have not abided by previous temporary deals, meaning the evacuation process is fraught with danger.
The Foreign Office said nationals should not make their way to the airfield unless called to, and warned the situation remained volatile, meaning the ability to conduct evacuations can change at short notice.
But Foreign Secretary James Cleverly later said nationals must make their own way to the flights, saying they are “unable to provide escorts”.
Jennifer waited for the call to tell her it was safe to leave but said there was “no assistance, very little info and it was short notice.”
Cleverly also defended the Government amid suggestions it should have carried out evacuations sooner, saying there are “considerably more British nationals in Sudan than other countries have”.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
