A British Airways-operated Boeing 747 has been forced to return to London Heathrow Airport after developing a “minor” technical fault.

BA0025 had departed Heathrow en route to Hong Kong at 18:20 on Monday with 298 passengers on board before returning at 21:15.

The aircraft has been examined by engineers and the flight rescheduled for Tuesday.

A spokesman for air traffic control company NATS told the BBC the flight crew relayed that the plane had a problem retracting its undercarriage.

He said time was spent in the air dumping fuel over the ocean in order to make sure the aircraft was a safe weight for landing.

BA apologised for any inconvenience caused and offered passengers hotel accommodation until alternative seats could be founds.