Pensioner in police cell after forgetting passport

A pensioner was put into a Belgian police cell overnight and deported back to Britain for forgetting her passport. The 74-year-old woman from Bridlington, Yorkshire, was refused permission to stay, even though the British Consul offered to stand surety for her on behalf of the British Embassy in Brussels.

The woman was detained by the gendarmerie on Monday after stepping off a train at Brussels station. Her son, who works for the European Commission, and with whom she was going to spend a week's holiday, was waiting to greet her when she was taken into custody.

Her son offered to deposit his Belgian residence permit as surety pending the arrival of his mother's passport by courier, which could have been arranged within 24 hours.