A British court has decided that the former Chilean president, General Augusto Pinochet, will not be allowed to leave his home to attend midnight Mass in church on Christmas eve.

But, in response to a request from General Pinochet's lawyers, he will be allowed to leave if he needs urgent medical attention.

General Pinochet is under police guard awaiting a decision on extradition to Spain to face charges of crimes against humanity.

Earlier this week, a prominent Conservative politician Norman Lamont called for the bail conditions to be relaxed so that General Pinochet could attend church at Christmas.