Officers from RAF Benson have recently mounted a public relations offensive to justify their low-flying exercises.

Puma and Merlin helicopters often train low over Benson, near Wallingford, bringing complaints from residents.

Over the summer, night-flying training sorties have been common between midnight and 3am because hours of darkness are short.

To explain the need for low-flying, Sqn Ldr Sara Slingsby led a slide-show presentation to the parish council.

She said the helicopters were on call to support to British army commitments across the globe at short notice and pilots had to practise all aspects of flying for operational effectiveness.

Flt Lt Ian Douglas said low-flying - technically defined as below 500ft - was kept to a minimum and residents' concerns were borne in mind.

He said: "We don't have low-flying jets here, and we transfer a lot of our helicopter flying to other parts of the country, such as Scotland and Wales."

Parish council chairman Paul Booker said: "Generally speaking, the people of Benson all support you, but it's the little niggles that annoy us."