A near-miss between an RAF jet and a passenger plane which happened 20 miles from Newcastle Airport is being investigated by aviation authorities.

The incident involved a Jaguar fighter and a commercial flight from Brussels carrying 80 people.

The near-miss is being investigated by the UK Airprox Board, a joint civil and military body.

It is the third such incident involving military and passenger planes in the region this year to come under investigation, following similar near misses in April and May.

Restrictions rejected

The incident, involving a plane from operators SN Brussels Airlines heading for Newcastle, took place on 2 July, but has only just come to light.

An RAF spokeswoman said the incident was being investigated and they could not comment further.

No one from Newcastle Airport or SN Brussels Airlines would comment.

The incident took place 20 miles south-east of the airport at a height of 7,000 feet.

In June the Ministry of Defence refused to accept "no fly" zones - areas RAF pilots would not enter while on exercise over the North East.