Franco's remains to finally leave Spain's Valley of the Fallen

Dictator's tomb to be opened and coffin taken to cemetery near Madrid on Thursday

Spain's socialist government is finally to fulfil one of its key promises when the remains of General Franco are exhumed from the austere splendour of the Valley of the Fallen and transferred to his family mausoleum outside Madrid.

If all goes to plan, the 1.5-tonne slab that has covered the dictator's tomb will be lifted at 10.30am on Thursday and the coffin removed and flown by helicopter or taken by road to Mingorrubio-El Pardo municipal cemetery.