CHILDREN were given an unexpected Christmas surprise when a police helicopter landed on their school field.

The event at Belmont Junior School in Durham was organised by teachers and governors to commemorate the merging of the school with neighbouring Belmont Infant School.

National Police Air Service base manager Chris Todd gave spoke to pupils about the various roles of the police air service, including finding law breakers, locating missing or lost people, transporting sick people to hospital and helping those having trouble in water.

He also showed video footage of police dog training and high-speed car chases, all taken from the helicopter’s heat-sensitive cameras.

Students then gathered on the school field, where head teacher Janice Wynn told the air crew of Newcastle’s own police helicopter that it was safe to land.

Students and staff cheered when the pilots emerged from the aircraft.

Governor Ken Holroyd, who first pitched the idea for the helicopter landing to staff, said: “We wanted something spectacular to mark the event of bringing the two schools together. I think they will remember it for a long time.”

Mrs Wynn said: “The helicopter landing was a total surprise for the children. You could tell by their faces how much they enjoyed it. It’s been a lovely way to commemorate bringing the schools together.”

Mr Todd said he hopes that teaching Belmont students about the teamwork skills practiced by the police air service would encourage the infants and juniors to work together to make the newly-joined school a success.

He said: “It was an honour to give the kids their first assembly as a joint school.”