Residents were left confused by a Chinook aircraft circling in the skies above Wirral last night.
Olivia Williams was among the people to notice the Chinook aircraft after it flew over her home in Pensby at around 9pm.
The 25-year-old captured the helicopter on camera as it travelled towards Murrayfield Hospital in Barnston.
The Royal Air Force have now confirmed to the ECHO it was one of their aircraft.
An RAF spokesman told the ECHO: "A RAF Chinook from 18(B) Squadron, was operating in Wales and the NW of England, including the area of Wirral Murrayfield Hospital, yesterday evening before returning RAF Odiham.
"The crew were completing essential operational training events designed to ensure that our crews continue to be ready for global operations."
Speaking last night, Olivia said: "The noise was so loud when it flew over our house and was so low.
"It went over towards Murrayfield Hospital and seemed to hover there for a few minutes.
"It looked like something was attached to it as well. It then circled back round right over our house and seemed to head towards the Irby area."
People also reported seeing the aircraft circulating over other parts of the peninsula including in New Brighton.
One woman said the noise was so loud she ran back into her house, while another said she saw the aircraft but assumed it was the police.
The RAF carry out training exercises across the UK in readiness o deploy around the world at any given moment, just as they did in 2017 to help with the Caribbean hurricane relief effort and their ongoing Operation Rescript which is helping to tackle the pandemic.
When carrying out training activities, the RAF try to keep local residents aware via social media.
However, it is not always possible for them to alert people or say how long exercises will continue for security reasons.
