Three members of a suspected Russian spy ring who were arrested by counter-terror police lived in a flat one mile from an RAF base used by ministers and the Royal family, The Telegraph can reveal.

Bulgarian nationals Orlin Roussev, 45, Bizer Dzhambazov, 41, and his 31-year-old girlfriend, Katrin Ivanova, were detained during a series of intelligence-led raids across London and Norfolk.

For around a decade, all three had links to a flat in west London, a short distance from the RAF Northolt military base. Members of the Royal family regularly use the base to fly abroad, and it is also used frequently by ministers and foreign heads of state.

The arrests are understood to have followed a long running counter-espionage investigation conducted by Scotland Yard.

All three Bulgarian nationals were initially arrested on suspicion of committing offences under the Official Secrets Act, but were charged with possession of false identity documents after a cache of fake passports was allegedly discovered by detectives.

The investigation into allegations of spying remains ongoing, and two other people who were arrested at the same time have been bailed by police.

One neighbour on the Northolt street described how Mr Dzhambazov claimed that he worked for Interpol and that he tried to erect a huge satellite dish on the side of the property.

Mr Roussev, a tech entrepreneur, specialises in signals intelligence, which involves the interception of communications or electronic signals. He also worked as an adviser for the Bulgarian energy ministry and has business links with Russia.

He was detained at a guest house in the Norfolk seaside resort of Great Yarmouth. The guesthouse is believed to be owned by a Bulgarian businesswoman.