British jets and drones have hit Islamic State targets as part of the push to drive the jihadist group out of their Iraqi stronghold, Mosul.

The RAF took part in strikes around the northern Iraqi city, hitting targets including a truck bomb and anti-tank gun in support of the ground offensive.

The assault on Mosul has led to warnings of a humanitarian crisis as people flee the city, which has been under IS control since 2014.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has described the effort to liberate Mosul as a "big moment" in the war against IS, also known as Daesh, and vowed that British forces would continue to play a major role as part of the coalition supporting the Iraqi and Kurdish forces on the ground.

The Ministry of Defence released details of a series strikes carried out by the RAF on Monday and Tuesday.

On Monday, a Reaper drone was in action south-east of the city, attacking targets including a mortar position, an armed truck and two IS heavy weapons teams - one equipped with an anti-tank gun.

A Typhoon flight to the south of Mosul used a Paveway IV guided bomb to destroy a large truck bomb before it could be used by IS, with video footage capturing the large explosion on impact.

On Tuesday, a Reaper flying to the south-east of Mosul targeted two groups of IS fighters and an armed truck, while to the north-east of the city Typhoons destroyed targets including a string of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) laid out in a defensive belt.

Coalition forces expect IS to have laid a series of booby traps in and around Mosul as part of their effort to hamper Iraqi advances.

In an indication of the humanitarian consequences of the attack, Save The Children said thousands of desperate Iraqis have made their way to an already-overcrowded Syrian refugee camp in an effort to escape the offensive.

About 5,000 people, mostly women and children, have arrived at the Al Hol camp from the Mosul area in the last 10 days, and at least 1,000 more are now massing at the border waiting to cross, the charity said.

Foreign Office Minister Tobias Ellwood said "huge amounts of planning" had gone into preparing for the liberation of Mosul.

"The place will be covered in booby traps, in IEDs, it will not be safe for anybody to enter, there will be huge sums of refugees seeking shelter and support elsewhere," he told BBC Radio 4's World At One.

The city would be liberated by Iraqi Sunni forces and made safe, allowing refugees to return, he insisted.