The BBC's Jonathan Charles hears of "dancing in the streets"

Some 59 British nationals have already been able to flee the country amid escalating violence between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

But when a British-chartered aircraft attempted to leave Cairo to reach the remaining Britons, authorities in the Eritrean capital Asmara denied it permission to touch down.

A foreign office spokesman said that refusal came despite the "best efforts" of British officials in the region to secure a safe passage.

Foreign countries began organising an evacuation of their citizens on Friday after fresh violence sparked between Ethiopia and Eritrea as a result of a long running border dispute.

A US plane carrying two hundred people, 59 of them British Voluntary Service Overseas staff, did leave Asmara on Friday and landed safely in Frankfurt, Germany.

British officials, led by the Honorary Consul in Asmara and the embassy in Ethiopia, are attempting to organise another flight, fearing that evacuation could become impossible.

A foreign office spokesman said: "We are seeking a replacement charter aircraft to get the Britons out as quickly as possible.

"Our officials are working all night to make alternative arrangements.

"We want to make sure that all British nationals are out in case the situation deteriorates," said the spokesman.

Escalating violence

More violence is expected in the border dispute

At least 35 people, 10 of them children, died on Friday in an Eritrean air raid on the town of Mekele.

But both sides have been carrying out raids in the border dispute.

On Friday Eritrean anti-aircraft guns shot down one Ethiopian plane during an attack on the airport in Asmara.