Call for 'more Britons in space'

Britain's first astronaut has said the UK risks becoming a "backward nation" if the government does not pay to send more people into space. Helen Sharman believes the country would lose many of the benefits of Tim Peake's mission if a commitment to more flights is not made very soon. Ms Sharman said that this was the UK's "last chance" to be involved "in the future of the human race". She spoke to BBC News on the eve of the 25th anniversary of her spaceflight. The government has effectively paid for one spaceflight, Tim Peake's, according to Ms Sharman.