Divers appear to hang Spanish flag over Gibraltar reef blocks

The pictures were taken by the divers, Alvara Cuadros and Vicente Jimenez, the person who posted the images on Twitter told ITV News. Credit: Twitter: @sanchezdereal/ Alvaro Cuadros Credit: Twitter: @sanchezdereal/ Alvaro Cuadros

Diplomatic tensions between Spain and Gibraltar have intensified after pictures of divers hanging Spanish flags over a controversial concrete reef off the coast of the island emerged on Twitter

Gibraltar's government dropped 74 concrete blocks on to the sea floor to create the artificial reef last month to the dismay of Spanish fishermen who say the blocks have tangled and broke their nets.

Read: Row between Spain and Britain over Gibraltar grows

The pictures come as video footage purporting to show police officers measuring the boulders was reported by The Telegraph and Daily Mail.

The person who posted the pictures on Twitter told ITV News the divers holding the flags are civilians, not police - the alleged police inspection was a separate incident.

Gibraltar strongly condemned Spanish police for allegedly sending divers to inspect the reef in waters claimed by the British territory. In a statement, the Gibraltar government told the BBC:

More: Why British territory in Gibraltar is such a rocky point with Spain