A retired British businessman will be extradited to the United States within 10 days after failing in his latest attempt to block the move, his lawyer said.

A last-ditch plea by Christopher Tappin to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to block extradition has been rejected and he will be extradited "within the next 10 days", his lawyer, Karen Todner, said.

The American authorities want to put him on trial accused of conspiring to sell components for Iranian missiles.

The 64-year-old, from Orpington, Kent, denies unlawfully attempting to export batteries for Hawk air defence missiles and says he was the victim of entrapment in a "sting" organised by US government agents.

His long legal battle through the UK courts to block his removal ended in failure last month when High Court judges Lord Justice Hooper and Mr Justice Cranston refused to allow him to take his case to the Supreme Court.

Refusing permission, Mr Justice Cranston said time would now begin to run for his removal to the US.

An application to the human rights judges for Rule 39 relief staying Tappin's removal pending a further hearing of his case in Europe was made, but has now been rejected by the Strasbourg-based court.

Ms Todner, managing director of Kaim Todner Solicitors Ltd, acting for Tappin, said: "The European Court of Human Rights has confirmed that they will not grant Rule 39 relief to Mr Tappin.

"Therefore his extradition to America will take place within the next 10 days.

"We truly hope that the UK Government will see this case as an example of the gross injustice to British citizens by the UK/USA extradition treaty and, as they declared in Opposition, they will now act quickly to make the necessary amendments."