Members of Russia's oldest symphony orchestra, the St Petersburg Philharmonic, were ordered to leave an American airliner after getting drunk on a flight to Los Angeles.

United Airlines said about 90 people had embarked on the drinking binge after smuggling alcohol on board the flight from Amsterdam.

The musicians, who ignored pleas to restrain their behaviour, were ejected during a routine stop in Washington.

They are said to have caught a connecting flight to Los Angeles the following day, without incident.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service