Tens of thousands of former Gurkhas have won the right to live in Britain after Gordon Brown was forced to change government policy by a campaigning actress.

Joanna Lumley, formerly best known for her role as Patsy in the television comedy series Absolutely Fabulous, described the prime minister as a “brave man” after a meeting on Thursday morning. Mr Brown told her that the UK would open its doors to all Nepalese soldiers who had served in the British army for more than four years. Ms Lumley said “a great injustice has been righted”.