BRITAIN, Germany, France and Brazil will today sign the world's first binding treaty to regulate the arms trade.

The four nations – all exporters of weapons – are among the first to put pen to paper on the deal, which was approved by the United Nations in April.

Their move was last night welcomed by David Grimason, the Scottish father who has campaigned for greater arms control since his two-year-old son Alistair was shot dead in Turkey a decade ago.

Mr Grimason said: "The moment has finally arrived when countries can sign up to the Arms Trade Treaty and commit to a future where weapons will be properly regulated for the first time.

"Without this treaty, it is easier to trade in guns and bullets than bananas, but that can change after today.

"The more countries that sign the treaty, the stronger and more effective it will be. Every minute at least one person dies from armed violence. Millions more are injured or displaced from their homes."

The world's biggest dealers, however, have yet to sign the UN Arms Trade Treaty.

The United States – which exports £8.8 billion of arms a year – is expected to do so later this year. Russia, China and India abstained.