Zambian judge's fragrant sentence

A British businessman has been sentenced to 15 days of gardening at Zambia's immigration department after overstaying his visa.

Charles Long, who said he had lost his passport said he was "happy" with the sentence. "It is better than being inside prison," he told a local paper.

During his sentence, he will cut the lawn and tend the flowers, before being deported to the UK, an official said.

A BBC correspondent in Lusaka says the sentence is extremely unusual.

Our reporter Musonda Chibamba says it is rare for foreigners to be sentenced to community service, which mostly involves hard labour such as digging, rather than tending flowers.

Mr Long said he had gone to Zambia to pursue business contacts.