TALIBAN guards have blocked a British mercy convoy from entering Kabul airport with 173 cats and dogs due to flee Afghanistan.

       Former Royal Marine Pen Farthing, 57, warned the pets will bake to death in their travel crates if the eight hour stand off does not end soon.

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       Brit Pen Farthing says the Taliban has stopped his desperate bid to evacuate animals from Afghanistan Credit: Jerome starkey 6

       And the former Commando fears animals will die in the scorching heat Credit: Jerome Starkey

       And he's appealed directly to the Taliban's Doha spokesperson for help.

       The ex-commando founded Nowzad, an animal rescue charity, after serving in Afghanistan in 2007.

       He made a midnight dash with his 25 Afghan staff and their families after Defence Secretary Ben Wallace agreed to let him land a private charter flight to fly them all to Britain.

       The mission to rescue 94 dogs and 79 cats is codenamed Operation Ark.

       Pen bought two trucks in the space of 24 hours and loaded them up with food and supplies to last three days – in case they were delayed inside the airport.

       But they nearly didn’t make it after they were stopped at a Taliban checkpoint as they raced across the city under cover of darkness last night.

       “About 15 guys jumped out and levelled their guns at us,” he said.

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       “Then one of them had an ND [a negligent discharge]. Luckily he was a s*** shot and it went over our heads.

       “I very rarely hear Afghans swear in English but I heard a few words then.”

       They were held for an hour at the checkpoint before finally being allowed to drive across the city to the airport.

       Pen said they left under cover of darkness so that it was cooler for the animals.

       They reached the airport at 2am local time, but eight hours later they had still not been let through.

       ANIMALS WILL DIE IN HEAT

       “We’ve got hours now before animals start dying,” he warned.

       Staff parked their trucks stacked in the shade.

       They lifted the tarpaulins to allow more air to flow and vets have been spraying the crates with water to try and keep them cool.

       “There are some in the middle we can’t reach and we can’t start unloading them because it will attract too much attention room,” he added.

       “It is getting really desperate.

       'WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH'

       “We are appealing directly to the Taliban to let us through.

       “We have permission to leave.

       “We are in touch with the British forces but they say they are powerless to help.”

       In a tweet to Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, he said: "Dear sir.

       "My team and my animals are stuck at airport circle. We have a flight waiting.

       We've got hours now before the animals start dying

       "Can you facilitate safe passage into the airport for our convoy?

       "We are an NGO who will come back to Afghanistan but right now I want to get everyone out safely.

       "We have been here for 10 hours after being assured that we would have safe passage. Truly would like to go home now."

       Pen vowed to stay in Afghanistan until he knew his rescue animals and 25 members of staff would be safe - despite holding a British passport.

       Politicians have urged him to get out of the country as soon as possible after wife Kaisa Markhus managed to escape with a pregnant American friend.

       ATTACK IS 'IMMINENT'

       Meanwhile, the British evacuation mission is set to end as soon as today.

       Last night, the Government urged fleeing Afghans to head for the border and avoid Kabul airport altogether.

       And the UK will likely announce the final airlift after it was taken place in a bid to avoid more chaos on the ground.

       The Foreign Office warned last night there's an imminent threat of a terror attack at the airport and that everyone in the area should evacuate immediately.

       Mr Wallace has admitted thousands of Afghans who helped British efforts in the country would be left behind.

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       Charity staff are desperately trying to keep the cats and dogs cool Credit: Jerome starkey 6

       But Pen warned they face a desperate situation Credit: Jerome starkey 6

       It comes as Afghans are told to keep away from Kabul airport over fears a terrorist attack is imminent Credit: Jerome Starkey 6

       Brit forces could pull out of evacuations within hours Credit: PA

       Ben Wallace hits back at British animal lover Pen Farthing in Afghanistan