Philippines aid: Red Cross flight leaves Stansted

One of the first flights from the UK to carry emergency equipment to support the aid effort in the Philippines has taken off from Stansted Airport in Essex.

The supplies on the cargo plane, which is heading for the devastated city of Tacloban, will allow the British Red Cross team to set up a base in the areas devastated by the typhoon.

Red Cross spokeswoman Charlotte McGlade said the load contained everything the organisation would need to do its job effectively.