The Liberal Democrats have called on the government to help the Kenyan tourism industry after the cessation of flights from the UK.

In a letter to international development secretary Baroness Amos, Lord Oakeshott welcomed the return of services to Mombassa after a two-month ban, imposed due to fears over the threat from global terrorist networks.

Last November terrorists linked to al Qaeda carried out a bomb attack on a hotel, killing more than a dozen people, and also tried to shoot down an Israeli airliner with a surface-to-air missile.

Lord Oakeshott called for further action despite government claims of enhanced co-operation between the two countries.

A statement from the Department for Transport said: "Earlier this year the review under which we keep the security of UK citizens and interests overseas led us to impose a ban on flights to Kenya by UK airlines."

"Close co-operative working between UK and Kenyan security authorities, and positive developments in the security climate, subsequently enabled us to rescind the ban in respect of flights by UK airlines to Nairobi.

"Further work has now allowed us also to remove the ban on UK airline service to Mombassa, with immediate effect."

However, the Lib Dem peer said the Department for International Development should be stepping up its efforts.

"News that the government is lifting the ban on direct flights by British airlines to Mombassa is most welcome," he said.

"More can be done, though, and the government must urgently look at ways to help rebuild tourism in Kenya following the hammer blows of the flight bans and the attack last November."

Although flights will resume after the announcement, the Foreign Office has retained its warning of a "high risk" of terrorist attack in the country.

"Security must be paramount, but the Mombassa ban hit the Coast Province especially hard," Lord Oakeshott added.

"Kenya's democracy must be given the support it deserves. It now shines out as a beacon of hope in Africa, in stark contrast to Zimbabwe.

"Britain has both a special responsibility to help, and a clear national interest in Kenya's recovery."