A CHINOOK on a training exercise sparked hundreds of queries as it spent several hours circling the New Forest and North Dorset.

A spokesperson for Bournemouth Airport said: “The Chinook was carrying out a mix of military training and testing instruments. It had to follow normal approach procedures at Bournemouth Airport.”

And a spokesperson for RAF Odiham said they would be releasing a statement.

It’s not clear how low the Chinook was flying.

The MOD is allowed to carrying out low flying training - down to 100 feet from the ground - across the UK, but low flying isn’t usually allowed in areas around airports, or towns and cities with populations of more than 10,000.

In the last published figures – for 2012 -2013 - the MOD carried out 802 low flying training hours along the south coast, 597 of them in helicopters.

There were 77 complaints, giving an average of 10 flying hours per complaint, the second lowest in the country.

You can call the MOD Low Level Advisory Service, on 0800 51 55 44, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm (November to March) for information about flying.

If you want to complain, you can go to www.gov.uk/low-flying-in-your-area/complaints.