A Chinese-owned company is making circuit boards for F-35 warplanes flown by Britain and the US, the Ministry of Defence has revealed.

The parts, made by Exception PCB based in Gloucestershire, south west England, "control many of the F-35's core capabilities", according to publicity material produced by the MoD.

That includes "its engines, lighting, fuel and navigation systems", it said.

The MoD maintains that Exception PCB presents "no risk" to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter supply chain and said it is an established manufacturer of circuit boards to the defence industry.

A report by Sky News revealed that Exception PCB was making parts for the F-35 on Friday.

Former Tory defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth expressed concern that a Chinese-owned company is producing parts for a classified British programme, citing fears over Chinese espionage and rivalry.

He said: "We have been completely and utterly naive about the role of China and it is only now that people are beginning to wake up."