A Tornado from RAF Marham flying over Libya yesterday destroyed three armoured vehicles and two further vehicles, it has been revealed.

Maj Gen John Lorimer, Britain's top military spokesman, said: 'A British Tornado GR4 Aircraft, on a mission over Libya yesterday afternoon in support of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, took part in a co-ordinated missile strike against units of Colonel Gaddafi's Libyan Military.

'The Tornado aircraft launched a number of guided Brimstone missiles, destroying three armoured vehicles in Misrata and two further armoured vehicles in Ajdabiya.'

He added: 'Brimstone is a high precision, low collateral damage weapon optimised against demanding and mobile targets.'

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has released footage showing the missile strikes by the Tornado yesterday.

The announcement comes after Marham's Tornados destroyed a series of Libyan battle tanks that were threatening the disputed city of Ajdabiya on Thursday night.

It also comes as Libyan rebels have taken a key oil town in their continuing push westwards towards the capital Tripoli.

After being stymied for weeks by the heavy weapons of Colonel Gaddafi's army, rebels captured the city of Ajadibya yesterday and then swept into the oil town of Brega last night.

International air strikes, including those by Marham Tornados, have destroyed much of the government's heavy weaponry in the area.

'There are no Gaddafi forces here now, the rebels have Brega under their full control, it is free,' said rebel commander Ahmed Jibril from the westernmost edge of the town near the entrance to the oil facility.

'There was a small fight in Brega yesterday evening and the Gaddafi forces fled,' he added.