UK forced to seek help in hunt for sub

DEFENCE cuts have forced Britain to call in the French and Canadians to help hunt for a rogue Russian submarine in the seas off Scotland.

The UK scrapped the Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft in the last parliament, in defiance of warnings from defence chiefs.

But commanders had to call for help from French patrol planes after detecting a Russian submarine ten days ago. There were fears the vessel was trying to spy on Trident nuclear deterrent submarines.

It is the third time this year Britain has called on her allies to hunt for a Russian submarine in the area.

Admirals have urged the Government to look at filling the gap left by the scrapping of the Nimrod spy planes as part of the defence review to be unveiled today.

There have been suggestions the Prime Minister will announce a Nimrod replacement as part of the review.

In the latest incursion into UK territorial waters, a French Atlantique 2 maritime patrol plane has been hunting for the Russian submarine for more than a week.

The search intensified this weekend as another French Atlantique aircraft and a Canadian plane joined the hunt. Royal Navy frigate HMS Sutherland and a hunterkiller submarine were also sent on the search.

An MoD spokesman said: ‘Allied maritime patrol aircraft based at RAF Lossiemouth are conducting activity with the Royal Navy. We do not discuss the detail of maritime operations.’