Sky, a 24-hour news channel, has launched an investigation and suspended a journalist and a producer, the Guardian said.

The report by Sky News apparently showed the preparation and firing of a cruise missile.

But the nuclear-powered submarine HMS Splendid was docked and the BBC documentary crew says the events were staged for the benefit of Sky's camera, the Guardian reported.

The report was shown in various forms between March 31 and April 2. The Guardian said it knew the location of the sub at the time but did not reveal it.

The paper quoted Nick Pollard, head of Sky News, as saying: "We are fiercely proud of our reputation for accuracy and integrity in our reporting. This allegation has come as a complete surprise and will be fully investigated."

A British Royal Navy spokesman told the Guardian: "The MoD (Ministry of Defence) offered to Sky TV, on a pooled basis, a facility to illustrate the preparations for and the procedures involved in the firing of a Tomahawk land attack missile, filmed in an exercise context.

"Considerations of operational security at the time in relation to the activities of the submarine meant that the media facility had to be conducted under carefully prescribed security conditions."

WAR.WIRE