Sign up to FREE email alerts from rossendale - weekly Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

THIS amazing picture shows a Russian spy plane has been spotted flying over parts over Whitworth.

But the people of the town can rest assured that the Antonov 30 aircraft was on a routine observation mission with the full co-operation of the Ministry of Defence.

Under the international Treaty on Open Skies, Russia can make two unarmed surveillance flights over Britain a year.

The plane was caught on camera by George Penlington from Whitworth.

Jackie Smith was at her home in Whitworth when she saw the plane.

She said: “It just flew over me when I was in the garden

“I thought perhaps it was an old bomber coming back from the VE Day celebrations.

“It was very low and on a turn just going over the hill over Cowm.

“I would have liked to have taken a picture, but I was not quick enough - it was a good sight to see and it was very loud.”

Geoff Lyon, also from Whitworth, added: “I was on my way to Bacup when I saw a plane flying very low, barely missing the hilltops. It came from the Brown Wardle area and went over Cowm Farm - it was quite surreal.”

The Ministry of Defence said six RAF crew were also on board the plane, which is temporarily based at Brize Norton, Oxford.