LOW flying pilots practising forced landings are intimidating villagers, according to an angry resident.

Paul Smith, who lives in Layer Breton, says the planes have flown over the village for several years but started to become intrusive last summer.

He said since then at least one is overhead everyday from about 10am until early in the evening.

Mr Smith said some of the pilots fly their planes low and idle the engines before suddenly turning them up.

He said: “Sometimes when the engines are turned up again they shake the house because they’re flying so low.

“When they reduce the engine on a sunny day it’s as though they’re creeping up on us because the sunshine hides them from sight.

“I couldn’t tell you why but it feels like they want to scare us.

“It’s extremely noisy and very dangerous.”

On top of the noise and having fears about safety, Mr Smith said he was worried about privacy too.

His property is on top of a hill which provides a 360 degree view into his home from the air.

The father of one said: “If you want to relax out in the garden or do some sunbathing when the weather’s nice you can’t.

“You’re just waiting for the sound of this engine.”

Mr Smith, 55, said he has become so fed-up with the aircrafts he has been in touch with the Civil Aviation Authority to lodge a complaint but nothing has been done.

He says he is not the only one in Layer Breton who is unhappy with the planes and a number of other residents have also noticed the low-flying aircraft.

John Read, has lived in the village for 35 years and says the issue has been going on all the time he has lived there.

The 78-year-old said: “They do all sorts of manoeuvres and it’s such a nuisance.

“It happens over ten times each day and I’ve been trying to bring it to an end through the CAA but I’ve had no luck.”

He said the planes come from a number of airfields and airports and suggested they were attracted by the views at nearby Abberton Reservoir.

Mr Smith identified one of the planes as being registered at Anglian Flight Centres which is based at Earls Colne Airfield.

The airfield is roughly 13 miles away from Layer Breton.

A spokesman for the flight centre said the planes from their centre will have been practising forced landings.

He said: “The planes are entitled to do what they’re doing over non built-up areas.

“They won’t be flying any lower than 500ft over sparsely populated places.”

He said as part of the emergency move, pilots idle the engine.

He said: “Although we can try and keep our aircraft away from this area, the Abberton Reservoir is also used as a focal point for other flying schools in the Essex, Suffolk and Kent regions.

“But we’ve spoken to our members and asked them to carry out the procedures away from the area in question in future to avoid frustrating residents.”

The CAA was contacted for comment but did not respond.