A HAMPSHIRE community was celebrating last night after retired Gurkhas soldiers were finally given the right to settle in the UK.

Now Nepalese staff at a Winchester restaurant plan to invite Joanna Lumley to their restaurant to thank her for her campaigning on behalf of the soldiers.

All Gurkha veterans who retired before 1997 with at least four years’ service can now settle in the UK following the announcement by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith yesterday.

For Winchester resident Ramesh Tamang the news was particularly poignant as his father was a Gurkha who fought in Burma alongside British troops during the Second World War.

Ramesh, 34, owner of the Gurkha Kitchen on Parchment Street, said: “It’s great news and a great day for both Gurkhas and Nepalese people. We are so happy as our ancestors and forefathers have been fighting for Britain for nearly 200 years.

“It has been a long fight to get this victory and good news for people who have been fighting for equal rights. We will definitely be celebrating and have thought about inviting Joanna Lumley to our restaurant.

“Without her help this wouldn’t have happened for another ten years.”

Joanna Lumley, whose late father was an officer in the Gurkha regiment, has been the face of a high-profile campaign to secure equal rights for those who retired before 1997.

Last month campaigners reacted with fury at Home Office rules which they said would allow only 100 more Gurkhas, mostly officers and medal-winners, to live here, but would exclude ordinary infantrymen.