PARATROOPERS are practising their helicopter skills and helping to develop the next generation of RAF pilots.

Across this week, three Chinook helicopters from the RAF's 28 Squadron are training with Colchester-based 16 Air Assault Brigade.

The squadron, based at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, trains helicopter pilots in tactical flying and how to operate with ground troops before they join frontline units.

Soldiers and aircrew are working together to practice moving troops around the battlefield as well as equipment and vehicles, both carried inside the Chinook and as under-slung loads.

KAT Marketing in Colchester took to Twitter to post this short clip of an aircraft taking off over the town:

16 Air Assault Brigade is the British Army's airborne rapid reaction force, and its troops are specially trained and equipped to deploy by parachute, helicopter and airlanding.