A mother of five-month-old triplets who escaped war-torn Beirut two days ago is due to arrive back in Brighton this morning.

Elise Mazegi, 32, fled Lebanon with her babies on board HMS Gloucester and sailed 11 hours to Cyprus with about 200 other evacuated Britons.

She was due to arrive at Gatwick on an RAF plane late last night and was looking forward to being back in Brighton.

Mrs Mazegi said: "I'm exhausted but I'm very glad to be out. I just want to get home."

The 32-year-old visited her sister in Lebanon last autumn when she found out she was pregnant with the triplets.

Doctors advised her not to travel so she gave birth in the country on February 15.

Her husband, Fadi, a 36-year-old businessman, has not seen the babies because he has been working in Brussels. He told The Argus he intended to fly to the UK for an emotional reunion.

He said: "Seeing the pictures of the bombardments on the news and being many miles away from your family is perhaps worse than being there. When I realised they were safe in Cyprus, I just felt so relieved."

Mrs Mazegi described how Israeli planes began making airstrikes on Beirut. The children slept through the attacks.

She was at her sister's house in the suburbs when it began and was offered the chance to escape on the evacuating Royal Navy ship.

But she had to take a risky journey through the centre of Beirut to reach the port.

Mrs Mazegi said: "I was really, really frightened getting in to that taxi and making that journey to the port."

She praised the sailors on board HMS Gloucester, saying many had offered up their bunks for her children.

It has also emerged one of Brighton's leading homeopathic therapists has also been caught up in the war between Israel and Lebanon.

Friends were yesterday waiting for news about Pema Sanders, who travelled to Lebanon earlier this year to set up a homeopathic practice and is believed to be waiting evacuation at a port.

Andy Waller, Pema's friend, said: "We understand she is okay although I've not had recent contact."

Susannah Graham, 32, from Rottingdean, has arrived back safely from Beirut where she had been working with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency at a Palestinian refugee camp.

She had been living in the south-east of the city, near areas controlled by Hezbollah.

Patrick Rahi, one of a number of Lebanese people living in Brighton, said: "We are all shocked and surprised at what's happening. Most of us have relatives there and are extremely worried."