Hundreds of British tourists are being brought home from strife-torn Tunisia.

Travel company Thomas Cook said it was suspending its Tunisia programme and evacuating 1,800 holidaymakers from the North African country.

Six flights were bringing the tourists home, with the first due to arrive at Manchester at 2.30pm on Friday. The company said they were only bringing home those customers who wished to leave.

Tunisia has been rocked by unrest sparked by anger at unemployment and at a leadership many see as controlling and corrupt.

Thousands of angry demonstrators marched through Tunisia's capital, Tunis, on Friday to demand the resignation of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Thomas Cook said: "Although there has been no specific problems for our holidaymakers, their wellbeing is our primary concern so, as a precaution, we've taken the decision to bring them back to the UK as soon as we can, using our fleet of aircraft today."

The Foreign Office (FO) has advised against all but essential travel to Tunisia.

The FO said: "The situation is unpredictable and there is the potential for violence to flare up, raising the risk of getting caught up in demonstrations.

"British nationals in Tunisia should monitor the news or stay in touch with your tour operator."

Thomas Cook said it had cancelled its flights to Tunisia due to leave on Sunday and was "reviewing the situation" for the flights planned for next Wednesday.

Holiday companies First Choice and Thomson said they had cancelled all excursions due to take place in Tunisia on Friday and had also cancelled the Thomson Airways' flights due to leave for Tunisia on Sunday.

They said no decision had yet been taken on flights due to depart for Tunisia after Sunday.