The last British resident in Guantanamo Bay was returning to London yesterday having been released after spending over 13 years at the military prison in Cuba, Britain's foreign minister said.

"I can confirm that he is on his way back to the UK now and he will arrive in Britain later today," Philip Hammond said.

The United States accused 46-year-old Saudi national Shaker Aamer of acting as a recruiter, financier and fighter for al-Qaeda, as well as being a close associate of Osama Bin Laden, but never charged him or put him on trial.

The father-of-four, who was twice cleared for release from the camp in 2007 and 2009, denied the allegations and said he was in Afghanistan working for a charity.

Some 112 people are still being held at Guantanamo.