Preparations for salvaging the nuclear submarine Kursk have been hit by an angry confrontation between Russian media and the company responsible for the operation.

A row broke out after four Russian television news crews were not allowed to film on board the North Sea diving vessel Mayo in Aberdeen Harbour.

The heated exchange took place between the Russian journalists and two representatives of Dutch company Mammoet.

The Mayo is expected to sail later this week to the Barents Sea, off northern Russia, where the Kursk sank in August with the loss of all 118 crew.

The TV reporters and cameramen were in Aberdeen to film the crew who will be involved in preparing the Kursk for lifting.

The Mayo is to leave later this week

The journalists were incensed at what they saw as an unhelpful attitude by Mammoet - which now has a group of Russian divers on board the Mayo.

The confrontation took place beside the Mayo, shortly after the specialist Russian saturation divers boarded the vessel at its berth at Aberdeen Harbour.

Two representatives of the Dutch heavy lifting company angered the Russian TV news crews by refusing to allow any filming on the vessel.

The two company representatives did not identify themselves but did promise that there would be a news conference in Aberdeen on Friday.

One of the Dutch company representatives asked the Russian TV crew: "Are you happy with the way you are spending Russian taxpayers' money?"

Hull repairs

The TV crew refused to comment.

The Mayo is destined for the Barents Sea, where the Russian divers are expected to carry out preparatory work on the hull of the Kursk.

It is hoped the salvage will result in the victims being recovered and explain what crippled the Kursk.

There has been fierce media criticism in Russia of the authorities' handling of the disaster.