International security

British nuclear submarine is spotted lurking beneath the surface off the coast of Gibraltar in a show of force towards Spain after Brexit sovereignty row

There was increased security around a naval base as a nuclear submarine was spotted breaching the surface - just one day after Spanish warships were reportedly seen.

British Forces took to their official MOD twitter account to announce the arrival of HMS Torbay at Her Majesty's Naval Base in Gibraltar. 

The imposing Royal Navy vessel is one of Britain's four Trafalgar Class submarines – HMS Talent, Torbay, Trenchant and Triumph – which entered service 30 years ago.

Eyewitnesses described 'increased security' during the submarine's arrival, and at her berth.

But the submarine, now in its 28th year of service, was welcomed by locals amid increasing tensions over the number of incursions into Gibraltar's waters by Spanish vessels.

Yesterday, a Spanish warship was reportedly in Gibraltar's waters, and some have claimed Torbay's arrival was seen as a 'show of force' towards the Spanish. 

The Trafalgar Class submarines HMS Talent, Torbay, Trenchant and Triumph have suffered from increasing problems due to their age.