TRIALS which could end complaints about disturbance caused by a police spotter plane have been postponed.

The trials to try to reduce the noise made by the aircraft, which were to have taken place last week, have been postponed until the middle of next month at the earliest, because of adverse weather conditions.

The delay has angered protestors, many of whom live at Middleton-St-George, near the aircraft's base at Teesside Airport.

They have accused police of complacency, saying the number of complaints about noise is much higher than they realise.

The trials of silencer equipment and redesigned propellers are being carried out by Isle of Wight aviation company Britten-Norman.