Bank of England blocking release of Venezuelan gold, court hears

$1bn gold hoard subject of dispute between Nicolas Maduro and rival Juan Guaido

Claims that the Bank of England is unlawfully blocking the release of 31 tonnes of gold valued at nearly $1bn(805m) and intended to combat the coronavirus in Venezuela have been heard in the high court this week.

The bars are among the 400,000 bars of gold held in the Bank's vaults, but there is a political dispute about their rightful owner.