The Sun newspaper has returned the fugitive armed robber, Ronnie Biggs, to custody in the UK.

The cost of the exercise has been estimated at between £250,000 - £500,000 and has prompted an investigation by the Press Complaints Commission.

Meanwhile, other questions have been raised about the timing of the fugitive's return, coming so close as to the announcement of a general election.

Tory MP Gerald Howarth described the move, which is thought to have involved the private offices of several leading ministers, as "a most massive election gimmick".