A group of 52 children from orphanages in Dnipro, Ukraine, have arrived safely in London before heading to their temporary home in Scotland.
The children, aged between one and 18, and their carers were supposed to leave Poland on Monday but were held up after key paperwork was not provided in time.
The Virgin flight finally touched down in Heathrow on Wednesday evening and the group are en route to Callander in Stirling, where accommodation has been arranged for them.
Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted about their arrival, saying: “52 children from Dnipro Kids have arrived in the UK to a safe and warm welcome.
“Huge thanks to my team at the UK Home Office, the Ukraine and Poland authorities, the Scottish Government and Virgin Atlantic who worked urgently on their swift arrival.
“The care they will receive will go some way to heal their suffering.”
The charity Dnipro Kids, formed by supporters of Edinburgh’s Hibernian FC, enabled many of the children to flee Ukraine for Poland.
Robert Brown from the charity said it and Stirling Council were “committed to giving the children a wonderful time so that they can escape the trauma of what they’ve been through, and we can turn their experience into an adventure they’ll remember for the rest of their lives”.
The youngsters are expected to spend a number of weeks in the Callander area before moving to Edinburgh.
SNP MP Ian Blackford said: “The flight from Warsaw to London, before onward transfer to Scotland, with the 52 orphans from Dnipro, is in the air.
“Well done to Dnipro Kids and all those who have made this happen.”
