AN RAF fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing at a North-East airport today after its windscreen was damaged by a bird.

The two-man Hawk T1A fighter jet had to make the emergency landing at Durham Tees Valley Airport at 1.52pm today after a bird collided with the plane's canopy - or windscreen - while it was flying over Barnard Castle.

The jet, which was on a routine exercise from RAF Leeming, landed safely and both crew members were reported to be unhurt. However, the canopy of the plane suffered damage.

A military spokeswoman said that whilst there was no damage to any other part of the plane, the emergency landing was necessary because of the damaged canopy.