MP Tim Loughton has been appointed as vice-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Gibraltar Group.

The East Worthing and Shoreham member was part of a Conservative and Labour Parliamentary delegation which visited the colony last month to have talks with First Minister of Gibraltar Peter Caruana, opposition leaders and business and union bosses.

Mr Loughton also took part in the political rally on Gibraltar National Day, when more than 12,000 Gibraltarians - almost half of the population of the colony - demonstrated against the British Government's proposals to hand over part-sovereignty to Spain.

He said: "I am delighted to be appointed to this important position and determined to continue the good work of the group.

"The group is here to be a friend to the people of Gibraltar in Parliament and is determined to represent their interests to the British Government.

"We will continue to put the case of the ordinary Gibraltarians, that they are not prepared to be used as pawns in the Government's game of cosying-up to the Spanish."

Last week, 99 per cent of the population voted in a referendum to stay a British possession.