Fighter jets from the Royal Air Force paid a flying visit to the Island on their way back to their base in Scotland.

The six Tornados and two supporting VC-10 jets and a Tri-Star jet landed two days ago for fuel and to deliver supplies for the Bermuda Regiment and were visible as they stood on the tarmac at the executive jet facility at the L.F. Wade International Airport.

An airport spokesman said yesterday: "Two VC-10 jets, a Tri-Star and six Tornado fighter jets from the Royal Air Force arrived in Bermuda as part of a training mission and to deliver supplies for the Bermuda Regiment. The aircraft departed L.F. Wade this morning at approximately 10:15 am, en-route to the Azores."

From there they will return to their base in Scotland.

According to the RAF website, the service has about 3,000 servicemen and women deployed on operations around the world, ranging from peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts to front line combat duties.

In Iraq and Afghanistan, Tornado and Harrier aircraft are providing vital offensive support to troops on the ground, and Nimrods are engaged in intelligence gathering and reconnaissance. Hercules aircraft are conducting airdrops of supplies while the Air Transport Force is involved in strategic airlifts and air-to-air refuelling.

Over the last few years, the RAF has also played a crucial role in underpinning security in the Falkland Islands, protecting the airspace over the UK, providing a Search and Rescue service, delivering vital relief aid after the earthquake in Pakistan and, most recently, contributing to the flood relief efforts in Yorkshire, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire.