Removal men arrive at Downing St

Removal men have begun to take away Tony Blair's belongings

Removal men have arrived at No 10 Downing St to pack away Tony Blair's possessions ahead of his departure.

A spokesman confirmed that a van spotted at the rear of the building residence was there as part of the "orderly transition" of power.

Mr Blair leaves office on 27 June, when Chancellor Gordon Brown, who already lives in the flat at No 10, takes over.

Mr Blair's possessions will be put in storage. Sources said many offices in Downing St were full of packing boxes.

Mr Brown moved into the flat at 10 Downing Street when Labour came to power in 1997, allowing the Blairs, who had three children, to move into the more spacious accommodation at number 11.

According to London's Evening Standard newspaper, building work is still going on at the Blair's new home in Connaught Square, which they bought for £3.6m in 2004.

The newspaper says the house is unlikely to be completed in time for the family to move in on 27 June. Downing Street has refused to comment.