Pavlova's remains to stay in London

Plans to return the remains of the Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova, to Russia have been cancelled.

The operators of the London crematorium that has held the dancer's ashes since her death seventy years ago said the return of the ashes had been called off at the request of the Russian embassy in London.

No reason was given.

The request for Miss Pavlova's ashes to be returned was led by the Mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzkhov.

Earlier press reports in Britain suggested that the return of the ashes to Miss Pavlova's final resting place might be obstructed by rivalry between St Petersburg - where Miss Pavlova studied and first performed -- and Moscow.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service