Spain has summoned Britain's ambassador to protest what it has described as "reckless behaviour" by a police patrol boat in Gibraltar.

Spain's foreign ministry said the crew of the Royal Gibraltar Police approached a Spanish police boat at high speed on two occasions, only to divert at the last moment to avoid a collision.

It said the incident, which occurred in waters between Gibraltar and Spain, had put the crews of both vessels at risk.

The dispute is the latest in a long line of diplomatic spats over the disputed British territory, which Madrid has long claimed should be returned to Spanish sovereignty.

In a statement, the foreign ministry said: "The RGP patrol boat, which was sailing at a high speed, diverted course just a few metres (yards) from the Spanish boat, causing a big wave that unsettled the Spanish police vessel.


"Its irresponsible and reckless manoeuvre created a significant, clear and sudden risk for the safety of both official boats and their crew," it said.

Image: A Royal Gibraltar police boat (Pic: File)

It added that the patrol boat had made no effort to contact the Spanish vessel, something the Royal Gibraltar Police has denied.

The RGP insisted its vessel "maintained a safe distance at all times whilst attempting to make contact with the crew (of the Spanish boat) to establish their intentions".

Responding to the incident, a spokesman for Britain's Foreign Office said incursions by Spanish state vessels into British Gibraltar territorial waters "are an unacceptable violation of British sovereignty".

"We will continue to use a range of proportionate diplomatic and naval responses to incidents," he added.

Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain in 1713, but has sought its return ever since.

Last month Spain proposed sharing sovereignty of Gibraltar in the wake of the EU referendum, after the territory voted overwhelmingly in favour of the UK remaining in the EU.

:: Will Brexit Harm Gibraltar And Spanish Expats?