Two Russian warships which are expected to sail through the English Channel close to the Kent coast tonight.

HMS Sutherland will continue to monitor the movements of the ships as they pass close to UK territorial waters today.

"HMS Sutherland is carefully marking these Russian ships as they pass close to UK waters." - Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon

The Type 23 frigate located the two Russian ships in the early hours of Friday morning as they sailed through the North Sea towards the Dover Straits.

The Steregushchiy-class corvettes, Soobrazitelny and Boiky, were joined later in the afternoon by a Russian support tanker and an ocean-going tug.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said: "HMS Sutherland is carefully marking these Russian ships as they pass close to UK waters.

"The Royal Navy maintains a vigilant watch and is always ready to keep Britain safe."

Royal Navy sailors on the Plymouth-based frigate use radar to keep watch of every movement of the ships.