A jet from Brize Norton helped RAF fighters monitor two Russian bombers that passed near UK airspace.

The Voyager aircraft from the West Oxfordshire base supported Typhoon jets from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland and RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire yesterday morning.

They monitored two nuclear-capable Tupolev TU-160 Blackjack bombers that came in from the north east and passed to the west of Ireland.

An RAF spokesman said: "We can confirm that quick reaction alert Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Coningsby scrambled to monitor two Blackjack bombers while they were in the UK area of interest.

"At no point did the Russian aircraft enter UK territorial airspace."