Streeting concluded his appearance on BBC Breakfast by saying we have to maintain our advances, maintain our capabilities, and protect our country.

"We have to defend our country, and that is a price we have to pay for the freedom and liberty that we enjoy, and I will continue to make that case as defence secretary," he said.

"Increasing investment in defence does come with choices and trade-offs, and I would argue very strongly that in the dangerous and turbulent world we find ourselves in, investment in defence is a price worth paying.

"As we invest in defence, we will do so in a way that builds industry, jobs and opportunities in this country."

Streeting's attention is drawn to Donald Trump being asked if there was any link between the arrested men and Iran, and the US president saying information will be shared "very soon".

"How soon?" Streeting is asked.

He says it will depend on the police operation, and that this is not the time for him to speculate.

"As soon as we can keep the public informed, we will. I would just ask people for a bit of forbearance to give the police and security services the time and space to do their job," he adds.

"We'll report back with further information as soon as we can."

Streeting is asked about the local farmer who says she called the Ministry of Defence's police after spotting the five men, but didn't get a response.

The defence secretary reiterates that he can't comment as a police investigation is under way.

Streeting is asked if, given that the investigation is live, Donald Trump should have commented on the incident.

Streeting doesn't answer this question directly, instead saying he is "really proud" of the UK's defence partnership with the US.

He adds he is also "proud of the fact" the UK's professionalism was recognised by President Trump.

Streeting says he is fairly limited in what he can say.

He says the local farmer who rang the police after spotting a group of "hooded and masked men" near RAF Fairford had a "partial picture" of what's been happening.

"I won't go beyond that, in terms of commenting on operational security matters," he adds.

The more we show about our operations and how they're conducted, is valuable insight to those who would do us harm, he tells BBC Breakfast.

He says he understands it's frustrating for the public that he can't share more - but it is "a small price to pay" to protect the integrity of the police and security services.

Image source, Getty Images

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting is now talking to the BBC about yesterday's incident.

He reiterates that five men have been arrested and that an investigation is "well under way".

Streeting goes on to issue an "enormous thank you" to local members of the public for showing "vigilance" and "forebearance".

Over 80 houses were evacuated, he says.

Streeting also thanks the police, security services and counter terror police for how the handled the incident.

RAF Fairford is located in the Cotswolds, about four miles (6.4km) south of the town of Fairford, which sits along the River Coln.

The site shares a long history with the American military, and has recently been used by US warplanes as a staging post for strikes on Iran.

With its long runway, the base is suitable for use by the United States' heavy bomber aircraft.

The area is typically quiet but about 170,000 people descend on the RAF site every July for the Royal International Air Tattoo, the largest military show in the world.

The event was cancelled this year due to the war between the US, Israel and Iran.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting says the investigation into the events near RAF Fairford is now "well under way".

He tells Radio 5 Live Breakfast it was difficult for him to comment further due to the live investigation.

Asked whether the arrests near the RAF base were based solely on a random tip-off from a member of the public or a more sophisticated surveillance operation, Streeting says: "Firstly I want to pay tribute to that member of the public for her vigilance, she’s done exactly what we would hope a member of the public would do in the situation she found herself in.

"She will of course only have had a partial view, and I don’t want to go beyond and stray into kind of operational and security detail at this stage.

"But I think we can be proud of the work that our police, counterterrorism police and security services do to keep us safe."

Streeting adds that "we have very robust tried and tested methods for protecting all of our bases around the UK and around the world".

Edward Rowe
Reporting from the scene

Despite the continuing police presence around the airbase this morning, the overwhelming sense here is of a peaceful rural location.

This might be an international incident generating commentary from both sides of the Atlantic, but nobody told the birds.

Since I arrived here at 06:00 BST this morning, parked next to a couple of farmers fields, it’s felt like a classic English countryside scene. A misty autumnal morning filled with birdsong and the smell of manure.

It couldn’t feel further from the corridors of power on both sides of the Atlantic where it is being discussed. The flashing lights of the police cordon are the only signs of the severity of the situation.

We're expecting Defence Secretary Wes Streeting to appear on BBC Breakfast at around 07:30 BST and to be speaking to Radio 4's Today programme at 08:10 BST.

You can follow BBC Radio 4 and BBC Breakfast TV in our live streams at the top of the page.

We'll be bringing you the key lines here.

Bea Swallow
Live page reporter

The farmer who alerted police to the suspicious activity near RAF Fairford believes "someone dropped the ball" by allowing the suspects and their vehicles to get so close to residential properties.

She told the BBC the three white vans were parked within metres of neighbours' homes - with those sleeping inside unaware of the potential danger.

"We need to be able to trust that the relevant authorities will take appropriate steps to monitor and manage threats to the communities who live and work in close proximity to the base," she said.

"It shouldn’t be necessary for someone like me to alert RAF Fairford of the presence of three large suspicious vehicles and a group of masked men."

The farmer, who chose to remain anonymous, said the incident left her with the impression that authorities were "hyper focused and vigilant" on protecting the base, but "had absolutely no regard for our village".

Edward Rowe
Reporting from the scene

I’ve just arrived at the cordon and it’s all quiet with one police car on the scene, its lights illuminating the gloom, not letting anyone through.

It means the people evacuated yesterday from the 85 homes in the village of Whelford are still waiting to return home.

Police have told me this morning only army personnel and emergency services have been let through, while the three vans that explosives experts have been examining remain further up the road.

Emergency service personnel are gathering at a local football club, with lots of police cars and fire engines visible there.

Meanwhile, activity at RAF Fairford seems to be continuing. I heard a plane as I arrived.

The farmer who called 999 has been speaking to the BBC's Today programme.

You can listen to the full interview on the programme on Radio 4 at 07:09 BST - press listen live at the top of the page.

Police are still questioning five men who were arrested close to the base - which has been used by the US Air Force to launch attacks against Iran - this morning.

A sizeable operation was launched in the early hours of Sunday morning, raising important questions about the UK's national security after President Donald Trump claimed US and UK authorities had been working together to monitor a potential plot to attack the base.

But despite that, it appears the arrests were made after a tip-off from a member of the public - a farmer who called police after noticing "a large group of hooded and masked men" lingering near the treeline.

Image source, Reuters

"When they saw me they ran ahead of me - some into the field and some towards the neighbouring village," she said. "I then realised that something highly unusual was taking place."

She said she immediately called the Ministry of Defence but the phone rang out, and her instincts told her to call 999.

"Within 10 minutes the village was full of armed police. I think it was pure luck that I arrived in the village at a similar time to the vans," she added.

"I am absolutely staggered that it was left to me as a member of the public to see and report this. I believe that my 999 call foiled whatever plans they had."

Nick Johnson
Reporting from the scene

There remains a very reactive police presence around RAF Fairford this morning.

We and other journalists have been asked to move location a number of times - and officers appear to have set up an ad hoc checkpoint for cars trying to drive past the base.

Despite Gloucestershire Police saying the matter is “contained”, the cordon is yet to be lifted and there doesn’t appear to be a timetable for residents living nearby to be able to return to their homes.

Matty Edwards
Live page reporter

Welcome back to our live reporting on the major incident declared on Sunday at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.

Here's what we know so far about yesterday's incident.

• Five men are still in custody after being arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act and explosive offences
• A major incident was declared near RAF Fairford where US Air Force planes operate from, after three "suspicious vehicles" were reported travelling towards the base at 00:45 BST on Sunday
• A local resident told the BBC she alerted the police to the activity near the base in the early hours of Sunday
• Residents from 85 homes evacuated from the nearby village of Whelford are yet to return home, while a 400m cordon remains in place around the area
• Gloucestershire Constabulary's temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth said on Sunday evening she believed the incident was "contained"
• Officers from Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) are now leading the investigation into the incident, but the BBC understands the operation was not intelligence led

Freya Scott-Turner
Live reporter

Image source, PA Media

A quiet corner of Gloucestershire found itself at the centre of the headlines today, after police declared a major incident near RAF Fairford.

The alarm was sounded at around 00:45 BST, as "three suspicious vehicles" were seen travelling towards the base.

Five men have been arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act and explosive offences.

Fairford is used by the US Air Force, which has - since March - been launching attacks against Iran from its runway.

The investigation is now in the hands of Counter Terror Police, who have said its investigation is in the "early stages".

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has urged "not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts". And we also heard from US President Donald Trump, who told reporters that the accused were "looking to do big damage to our fort".

As of Sunday evening, the cordon remains in place, and more than 80 households are unable to return home while investigations into the vehicles continue.

We're ending our live coverage now, but you can keep up-to-date with the latest on this in our news story.

James Landale
Diplomatic correspondent

RAF Fairford is a slice of America in the heart of England; a forward operating base for the US Air Force since the Cold War.

Its two-mile runway is so long it was once an emergency backup for the US space shuttle programme.

Now it is a vital launchpad for the vast, lumbering bombers President Donald Trump uses to strike Iran, the only airbase with such capabilities available to the US in Europe.

And that – by definition – has long made it a potential target.

In July, Iran's foreign ministry accused the UK of being complicit in war crimes for allowing the US to use Fairford as a staging post for defensive strikes in its war against Tehran.

And it warned "any party that, in any manner, participates in military aggression against Iran will bear responsibility for the consequences and repercussions of its decision".

That was seen as an explicit threat.

Read more in James Landale's full analysis here

Image source, PA Media

Simon Jones
Reporting from Gloucestershire

A local resident who says she alerted the police to suspicious activity around the military base in the early hours of this morning says she called the MoD police initially, but nobody answered.

The woman - who doesn't want to be named - saw the three vans parked up and a group of men wearing masks.

She then called 999. She says security had been stepped up around the base in recent days, so she was surprised the men had not been noticed before.

The MoD declined to comment.

As we've been reporting, Counter Terrorism Police (CTP) are now leading the investigation into the major incident around RAF Fairford.

CTP is not a distinct agency or an independent police force. Rather, it's a policing network.

It's made up of 11 regional counter terrorism units and intelligence units that collaborate to prevent and investigate terrorism in the UK.

Its personnel belong to 43 police forces from across England and Wales, alongside the police services of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

But CTP is unified centrally and has a headquarters in London, hosted by the Metropolitan Police.