Defence papers leak at Kent bus stop due to individual error

An investigation into how secret Ministry of Defence papers ended up at a Kent bus stop has found it was down to individual error, and not espionage. 

The documents related to HMS Defender's journey through waters off the coast of Crimea and to the UK military presence in Afghanistan.

The papers were given to the BBC by a member of the public who found them.

The Defence Secretary says the organisation is confident all the papers have been recovered and that the leak was a mistake by one individual, who reported the loss to the Ministry of Defence.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told MPs: "The investigation has found no evidence of espionage and has concluded there has been no compromise of the papers by our adversaries."

The individual has been removed from "sensitive work" and has had their security clearance suspended pending a full review.