A ROYAL Navy patrol vessel has fired warning flare shots after spotting a Spanish research vessel performing "aggressive" manoeuvres off the Gibraltar coast.

The cat and mouse confrontation unfolded when the Spanish state vessel was seen in British waters, reportedly to carry out oceanographic work.

2 The Royal Navy fired flares off the Gibraltar coast Credit: GBC News

But the Angeles Alvariño refused to leave the area on Friday despite warnings from the British vessel, the HMS Sabre.

Instead, it reportedly dropped a sonar buoy about midday on Sunday - with three warning flares sent up by the navy in response.

The tense stand off eventually ended when the research vessel left the area.

Images from the scene also appeared to show Royal Navy vessels confronting the research vessel.

Minister for Environment and biologist John Cortes tweeted about the stand off, writing: "It hurts to see scientists being forced/tricked into playing dangerous games, falsely in the name of science.

"There's ways to do science."

Maritime commentator and observer for British Gibraltar Michael Sanchez added there was a "Serious confrontation between Spanish R/V and HMS Sabre in Bay of Gibraltar Very close quarter maneuvers (sic)".

He also claimed that a radio warning was sent by the British vessel but was ignored.

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Oceanographer Victor Diaz-del-Rio tweeted photos reportedly from the Spanish vessel, begging the Royal Navy not to shoot.

Tweeting photos of a number of boats surrounding the research vessel, he wrote: "Please do not fire".

He later added: "Don't shoot @RoyalNavy! We are only oceanographers searching #BayofAlgeciras"

2 The vessels were involved in a confrontation just off the coast of Gibraltar (stock image) Credit: PA:Press Association

A British government spokesman told The Daily Mail: "The Royal Navy challenges all unlawful maritime incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW).

"We back this up by making formal diplomatic protests to the Spanish government."

It was recently argued that Royal Navy warships should be sent to Gibraltar to "protect it from Spain" during Brexit negotiations.

Prime Minister Theresa May was warned the measures would need to be made to fend off Spain's bid for joint sovereignty.

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