EUROFIGHTER Typhoons have been spotted looping repeatedly over Herefordshire over the last week, and the RAF has revealed why.

The planes, which take off from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, have been circling the county for several days.

They pass repeatedly over Hereford, Hay-on-Wye and the Golden Valley.

A spokesperson for the RAF confirmed that although the Typhoons fly over Herefordshire regularly, but are usually unseen because of the height at which they fly. The spokesperson added that they may have been spotted more recently because of weather conditions.

They added: "RAF Typhoon pilots use a variety of training areas around the whole of the UK for training and vary their routes and training locations to maximise training benefit. Recent training sorties have included flying over Herefordshire, such training ensuring that our pilots continue to be ready for global operations."

RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire is one of two RAF Quick Reaction Alert Stations which protect UK airspace, according to the RAF.

It is home to two frontline, combat-ready squadrons and is the training station for Typhoon pilots.

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The RAF says the Typhoon FGR.Mk four is a "highly capable and extremely agile multi-role combat aircraft", used for a "full spectrum of air operations" including air policing, peace support and high-intensity conflict.

Although Typhoon has flown precision attack missions in all its combat deployments to date, its most essential role is to provide quick reaction alert for UK and Falkland Islands airspace, the RAF said. 

Detachments have also reinforced NATO air defence in the Baltic and Black Sea regions.