A Royal Navy Sea King helicopter landed in a Croxley Green school yesterday.

The helicopter and the crew of three, part of the Royal Navy's 854 Naval Air Squadron, visited Harvey Road School to give students a chance to have a look around the aircraft.

There was also a chance to talk to the crew about their job and the Fleet Air Arm, which celebrates 100 years of naval aviation this year.

One of the crew, Charlotte Fredrickson, 29, was previously a student of the school.

She said: “We have to do so many hours a month flying to keep current, so it's nice to do these sorts of things.

"The pilot explains basically how the helicopter flies and they can have a look down the back where we do the work.”

“As a surveillance helicopter, we monitor anti-piracy, drug and arms-running and people trafficking.”

“We're going back to Afghanistan in February, it's a difficult place but most of us joined the military for a reason and if there's anything we can do to help the guys on the ground then we will.”

The squadron, based at Culdrose in Cornwall, provides one half of the Royal Navy’s Airborne Surveillance and Control.

The 60 foot long aircraft weighs nearly 10 tonnes, but thanks to two Rolls Royce Gnome turbines, it can fly at speeds of up to 150mph.

Pascal Audsley, from Croxley Green, said: “My 11 year old daughter Gaby is onboard at the moment. The helicopter is a lot larger than I thought, it's great they can go on it.”

Ryan Bickhin, 10, said: “I think it's pretty cool, if I had one I'd like to fly it to Disneyland.”

Jamie Maberly, 10, said: “I found it really interesting going in because I know what all the buttons do.”

For more information visit www.royalnavy.mod.uk.