British and French military aircraft were scrambled to the North Sea today amid reports Russian planes were approaching UK airspace.. It is thought the aircraft may have been supporting Typhoon fighter jets patrolling UK airspace, although the Ministry of Defence has declined to confirm this.

A security source told the Reuters news agency that a French fighter and support planes were also sent up to investigate 'suspected Russian fighter aircraft'.

Security sites in Moscow meanwhile reported a group of up to eight Russian planes flying towards Britain from the Barents Sea...

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