POLICE, ambulances and fire crews were called to an emergency alert at Durham Tees Valley Airport yesterday.

The call was sent out after an RAF Tornado was reported to be in trouble in midair at about noon.

The RAF Leeming jet was caught in high winds and a full emergency was called.

But the two-man aircraft landed safely and the pilot and navigator on board were both unharmed.

A spokeswoman for RAF Leeming said yesterday that emergency landings at the airport were quite common.

"It happens quite often if there are particularly high cross winds," she said.

"If our planes have to get down for any reason, Durham Tees Valley is the alternative runway.

"This was a routine procedure, it was no major drama."

Two fire engines from Darlington were joined by one from Sedgefield and another from Newton Aycliffe.

A spokesman for Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue said: "A small RAF aircraft was reported to have handling problems.

"The aircraft landed successfully, but we go into emergency as a standard response until we are told otherwise."