Royal Navy Escorts Spanish Patrol Boat Away From Gibraltar

The Royal Navy has escorted a Spanish patrol boat out of British Gibraltar territorial waters, as tensions rise over the overseas territory. 

A spokesman for the Gibraltar government said there was no immediate cause for concern aside from the fact that the Spanish ship was there without permission.

He also added that this sort of incident happens "3 or 4 times a year."

The Spanish ship involved was the Infanta Christina, and it sailed past the Rock at around lunchtime.

It comes just hours after Britain was told to "calm down" by Spain following former Tory leader Michael Howard's suggestions that Theresa May would be prepared to go to war over the Rock. 

However, the Prime Minister has since played down the threat of military action.

Tensions have risen in the last week after the EU said Madrid would have the final say on any future deals involving Gibraltar. 

Asked during a visit to Jordan whether she could rule out war with Spain, Mrs May evoked Sir Winston Churchill's famous dictum that it is always "better to jaw-jaw than war-war".

"What we are doing with all European countries in the European Union is sitting down and talking to them," 

"We are going to be talking to them about getting the best possible deal for the United Kingdom and for those countries, Spain included.

"It's definitely jaw-jaw."

Although there was no reference to Spain's claim to sovereignty in the Brexit negotiating guidelines released by European Council president Donald Tusk last week, the decision to give Madrid a specific role in deciding if a trade deal will apply to the Rock caused deep unease in Westminster.

The PM has reiterated her message of support in a phone call to Gibraltar's chief minister Fabian Picardo, who declared the territory's 30,000 citizens would not be treated as "bargaining chips" in Brexit negotiations.