RAF jets intercept Russian planes

It was the latest in a series of incidents this summer in which British fighters have been used to warn off long-range Russian reconnaissance aircraft.

The four Tornado F3 fighters were launched from RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire and RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire in the early hours, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said.

They intercepted and turned back eight Russian Tupolev Tu-95 "Bear" aircraft, which were "approaching but not in British airspace", he said.