A STATEMENT has been issued addressing a recent rise in military helicopter flights in the area.

Runcorn and Widnes have seen a number of Chinook helicopters in the sky above over recent weeks.

The Ministry of Defence was asked why there has seemingly been a rise in the number of such flights in the area.

In response, the Royal Air Force said all flights were routine training, with any increase being purely coincidental.

An RAF spokesman said: “These are all routine training sorties.

“The frequency of these flights and where they are conducted does vary.

“The increase in the area is coincidental.”

It comes as the UK will get 14 new Chinook helicopters, the Ministry of Defence has announced.

Britain negotiated the price down by £300million for the fleet of US-made, heavy-lift helicopters, which can carry 10,000 kg of cargo.