RAF combat training helps council

The Chinook airlifted wooden sleepers and fence posts to the marsh

An RAF helicopter has airlifted building material to council workers in a marshy part of Dorset as part of its military training.

The Chinook from RAF Odiham, Hampshire, airlifted wooden sleepers and fence posts to Priory Marsh, Christchurch.

Council workers had been doing "back-breaking" work dragging the goods across long distances to fix a pathway. Vehicles could not get near the site.

One worker got in touch with the RAF base, which agreed to help out.

Chinook helicopters can carry 54 troops or 25,000 lbs (11,340 kgs) of freight either inside, or slung underneath on up to three hooks.

The training helps the RAF with airlifting operations in combat zones

Countryside officer Vicki Hughes said: "Vehicles couldn't get near the site but I remembered reading about heavy materials being airlifted to inaccessible areas.

"I was advised to get in touch with RAF Odiham, so I put my request to the Joint Helicopter Support Unit and, luckily, it turned out they were doing training exercises in this area at the right time."

Cpl Paul Langbridge, who led the exercise, said the RAF were able to help as it fitted "very neatly" with training exercises they were carrying out, "so it's not costing anything".

"We judged the council's request to be something we would want to be involved in," he said.

"What takes five minutes by helicopter would take an enormous number of man hours to transport over land, so we were happy to come to the aid of a local council nature reserve."