<b>Exclusive
By Doug Trench
Defence Editor

A Russian submarine has been spotted lurking off the Suffolk coast as Vladimir Putin continues to provoke the west over troubles in the Ukraine.</b>

Defence chiefs fear the menacing sub is spying on Felixstowe as the Russian regime attempts to understand what makes a great British holiday resort so popular.

British spymasters believe Putin is envious of Felixstowe's international reputation as a summer millionaire's playground - and wants to use intelligence gleaned from the submarine to build a new resort back home on the Black Sea.

But officials warned the submarine has technically "invaded" Britain after entering UK waters uninvited - and added an accidental collision with one of the huge container ships from Felixstowe Port was a very real danger, sparking a major international incident.

A Ministry of Defence insider told the Suffolk Gazette: "Since we mothballed our fleet of submarine-hunting Nimrod aircraft, Putin has been sending his vessels into our waters in increasing numbers, knowing we can not pick them up.

"It's a dangerous game of chess as he goads us over our oppoistion to his expansionist policies in the Ukraine region."

The submarine, believed to be a third generation ballistic missile vessel, was first spotted by visitors to the Felixtowe Port viewing area car park.

They saw a mysterious periscope appearing from the waves about two miles offshire, rotating backwards and forwards by 45 degress as if surveying the Felixstowe coastline.

One tourist, and isitors at the superb Labdguard fort 

, the Suffolk Gazette can reveal.



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