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Last British troops leave Helmand Last British troops leave Helmand
(35 minutes later)
The last UK troops have left Helmand province in Afghanistan, as a poll suggests 68% of the UK public thought the campaign had not been "worthwhile".The last UK troops have left Helmand province in Afghanistan, as a poll suggests 68% of the UK public thought the campaign had not been "worthwhile".
The BBC poll of 1,000 adults also found 42% thought the UK was "less safe" as a result of the 13-year campaign.The BBC poll of 1,000 adults also found 42% thought the UK was "less safe" as a result of the 13-year campaign.
The end of UK combat operations was announced on Sunday, as the main British base Camp Bastion was handed to Afghan control.The end of UK combat operations was announced on Sunday, as the main British base Camp Bastion was handed to Afghan control.
The final troops left by air, with the last man holding the union jack.The final troops left by air, with the last man holding the union jack.
US troops from Camp Leatherneck, which adjoined Camp Bastion, have also left, leaving Afghan forces in control of the entire site.US troops from Camp Leatherneck, which adjoined Camp Bastion, have also left, leaving Afghan forces in control of the entire site.
The BBC's telephone poll, carried out from 24-26 October, found 14% thought the UK was safer as a result of the international intervention in Afghanistan, which began in 2001.The BBC's telephone poll, carried out from 24-26 October, found 14% thought the UK was safer as a result of the international intervention in Afghanistan, which began in 2001.
Responses showed 39% thought there was "no real difference", while 5% did not know or refused to answer.Responses showed 39% thought there was "no real difference", while 5% did not know or refused to answer.
In addition, 24% said the deployment of UK troops had left Afghanistan "better off", 25% said the country was "worse off" and 44% said there was no real difference.In addition, 24% said the deployment of UK troops had left Afghanistan "better off", 25% said the country was "worse off" and 44% said there was no real difference.
In answer to another question, 31% said they were somewhat or very confident Afghanistan could "protect its citizens without the help of UK forces", while 64% said they were not so confident or not confident at all.In answer to another question, 31% said they were somewhat or very confident Afghanistan could "protect its citizens without the help of UK forces", while 64% said they were not so confident or not confident at all.
The government has said UK troops will not return to fight in Afghanistan "under any circumstances".The government has said UK troops will not return to fight in Afghanistan "under any circumstances".
BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said troops arrived in Kandahar from Camp Bastion overnight in "large numbers" on Hercules aircraft, before a "wave of helicopters" carried the remaining few.
He said the last man off the final Chinook helicopter carried the British flag that was lowered in a ceremony at Camp Bastion on Sunday.
The troops will return home from Kandahar "in the next few days", he added.
The UK's most senior officer in Helmand, Brig Rob Thomson, said Sunday's ceremony marked the "final step in a deliberate, responsible and measured handover" to the Afghans.The UK's most senior officer in Helmand, Brig Rob Thomson, said Sunday's ceremony marked the "final step in a deliberate, responsible and measured handover" to the Afghans.
On Sunday, David Cameron tweeted: "We will always remember the courage of those who served on our behalf."On Sunday, David Cameron tweeted: "We will always remember the courage of those who served on our behalf."
Analysis
By Jonathan Beale, BBC defence correspondent
The last UK forces in Camp Bastion began their pull-out in the early hours of Monday morning.
Once their main base in Helmand housing thousands of troops, it was, in the final hours, occupied by just a few hundred UK soldiers and US marines.
It was a carefully rehearsed manoeuvre that had taken months to plan.
As British forces left their watchtowers they were replaced by Afghan soldiers who will now be left to guard Bastion and fight the Taliban on their own.
At just before midday the final wave of UK and US helicopters took off.
In less than an hour they had landed back in Kandahar, their final staging post before the long journey home.
The last UK commander in Helmand, Brig Rob Thomson, expressed his pride and relief when they'd all arrived safely.
It marks not just the end of their mission but the end of Britain's 13-year war in Afghanistan and British forces have been told they will not be returning.
But former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott has questioned whether the results "justified" the 453 UK deaths.But former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott has questioned whether the results "justified" the 453 UK deaths.
Writing in the Daily Mirror, Lord Prescott, who was in the cabinet that sent British troops to Afghanistan in 2001, said: "I respect the thousands of gallant men and women who went to Afghanistan and Iraq to save lives and restore peace.Writing in the Daily Mirror, Lord Prescott, who was in the cabinet that sent British troops to Afghanistan in 2001, said: "I respect the thousands of gallant men and women who went to Afghanistan and Iraq to save lives and restore peace.
"But they teach us that being the world's policeman carries a heavy price and does not justify the heavy loss of lives.""But they teach us that being the world's policeman carries a heavy price and does not justify the heavy loss of lives."
UK forces were part of a US-led coalition which toppled the ruling Taliban in 2001, following the 9/11 attacks in the US.
After 9/11, US President George Bush demanded that the Taliban hand over any leaders of al-Qaeda - the militant group which later claimed responsibility for the attacks - in Afghanistan, but the Taliban did not immediately comply.
Taliban leaders called for talks, but US President George Bush said there would be "no negotiations" and military action started on 7 October.
Camp Bastion, in Helmand province, was the UK's main Afghan base from 2006.
At the time it opened, the UK said its forces would be there to protect reconstruction of the country, but they got caught up in the struggle against the Taliban.
The Taliban insurgency continues, and Afghan police said four of its officers had been killed and at least 10 were taken hostages when militants attacked a compound in the northern Badakhshan Province on Sunday.