MYSTERY surrounds the thunderous arrival of an RAF helicopter which landed in the grounds of a Trafford school last night.

Scores of residents ran out of their homes in Davyhulme when they heard the commotion of the approaching search and rescue Sea King helicopter as it clattered down on fields behind Woodhouse School at around 9pm.

Tipplers at the Bentbrook pub also had a good view of the helicopter, which was guided down into the grounds by four police cars.

Witnesses said how once landed, a person from a waiting ambulance was put aboard the aircraft, which then took off again leaving locals puzzled.

One man who witnessed the drama told Messenger: "I thought it was going to crash at first as it came down lower and lower, and it was miles bigger than the usual police helicopters you see.

"There were four police cars - three marked and an unmarked Subaru.

"We then saw soembody being put on the helicopter. It was stange as it usually happens the other way round. I asked a policeman what was happening and he just said it was somebody who was 'poorly'."

Adding to the mystery, ambulance workers held a blanket in front of the 'patient' so that the gathering crowds could not see their face.

Bizarrely, police, who did confirm their attendance, said they were merely responding to a request from the RAF to have vehicles using their lights to guide the helicopter in, but didn't know the purpose of the surprise visit, while Greater Manchester Ambulance Service said they had no record of the incident at all.

Messenger has contacted the RAF for a comment, but so far they have also been unable to say why one of their helicopters was in Davyhulme.