Shadow defence Secretary Liam Fox has launched a Parliamentary campaign to protect Gurkhas coming to Britain from being exploited.

The Woodspring MP warned that brave ex-soldiers were being targeted by "unscrupulous middlemen" who were charging £500 for visa advice, which can be provided for free by the Government.

He has tabled an Early Day Motion calling for ministers to take action to clamp down on the practice, which has affected elderly, sick and penniless Gurkhas, who have also been told they will easily be able to get housing and benefits.

Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said: "There are increasing numbers of ex-Gurkhas coming to the UK who have been told by unscrupulous middlemen in Nepal that housing and benefits are very easy to come by here.

"We have heard from charities like the Army Benevolent Fund about veterans who arrive at Heathrow with no contacts in the UK, with very little English.

"It is quite wrong that these brave veterans should be exploited in this way. We would urge the Government to do all it can to ensure that Nepali veterans settling in this country use the official Resettlement Office in Kathmandu so that they are fully aware of what to expect if they choose to settle in the UK."