The identity of a civil servant who mislaid secret Ministry of Defence documents - found at a bus stop in Kent - has been revealed.

Sensitive papers were found by a member of the public on June 22 and were handed to the BBC, which led to a report with some of its contents.

One set of documents discussed the likely Russian reaction to the ship's voyage through Ukrainian waters off the Crimea coast, the BBC reported.

Another - marked "Secret UK Eyes Only" - weighed up plans for a possible "UK military presence in Afghanistan" after the US-led NATO operation there ends.

An investigation was launched after the sodden papers were found having been sat out in the rain.

Details relating to HMS Defender revealed a mission described as an "innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters" was conducted in the expectation that Russia might respond aggressively.

It has now been revealed senior civil servant Angus Lapsley is at the centre of the probe, according to The Guardian.

Two government sources have told the newspaper he was being lined up to be appointed the UK's ambassador to Nato at the time of the incident.

However, this has not been ruled out following the discovery of the mislaid documents.

He had his security clearance suspended pending a full review, which meant he could not continue his MoD position as director general - responsible for defence policy on Nato and the Euro-Atlantic area.

The civil servant has been redeployed to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

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