THE RAF has revealed why a military aircraft was spotted flying love over the county yesterday.

Amid rising tension with Russia, the Airbus A400 circled over Sussex after taking off from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire at 5.10pm.

The massive aircraft, which measures more than 45 metres in length, then passed low over Brighton City Airport in Shoreham, and above the streets of Brighton and Hove.

Despite speculation that the aircraft was performing touch and goes at the airport, RAF bosses said crews were completing "routine training".

A spokesperson for the Royal Air Force said: "A RAF A400 Atlas from RAF Brize Norton was completing routine training across a variety of locations across the UK yesterday including Sussex and Shoreham where practice approaches were completed.

"The RAF routinely use a variety of civilian airports all over the UK for training as they provide complex airspace and differing approach challenges for our pilots to ensure we remain ready and able to deploy on global operations."

The plane then flew across the English Channel before circling over Guernsey.

People impressed by the sight took photos of the plane as it glided overhead, including Argus camera club member Amanda Glinsman.

A dog walker, who was walking by the Grand on Brighton seafront when the plane flew overhead said: “I saw people looking up after hearing the sound of the engines, and when I spotted the plane, I knew it wasn’t just a passenger plane.

“I recognised it was a military plane and it was a stark reminder of what’s happening in Ukraine right now.”