Healey's arrival aims to quell concern about level of defence UK providing to Cyprus

Defence Secretary John Healey has arrived in Cyprus where the level of defence the UK is providing for the island is expected to be high on his agenda.

There are two main sovereign military bases on the island, Dhekelia and Akrotiri, the latter of which was hit by a drone.

Kyriacos Kouros, the Cypriot high commissioner to the UK, said a British military presence to defend the island was "the least we expect".

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Britain has deployed HMS Dragon to help protect Cyprus, but the Type 45 air defence destroyer is currently undergoing last-minute work while stores and munitions are being taken on board.

As such, she is not expected to sail until next week.

Wildcat helicopters, which carry Martlet missiles which are capable of taking out drones, have been dispatched to the island.

These can fit inside a transport aircraft, and are expected to arrive there sooner than the warship.

Hangar hit

A hangar at RAF Akrotiri was hit overnight on Monday by an Iranian-made Shahed drone, which was launched from Beirut in Lebanon, according to Cypriot officials.

Two further drones detected on Monday were shot down by RAF fast jets, which took off from Akrotiri.

Mr Kouros said the deployment of HMS Dragon was welcome, but he noted the length of time it would take for her to arrive.

Once on station, she will be able to set up a protective "dome" using her various weapons systems, especially her Sea Viper missiles, to neutralise any incoming threats.