TWO Royal Navy display helicopters had to make a forced landing in the grounds of Townley Grammar School,last night after one of them was damaged.

The Lynx helicopters, part of the Navy’s Black Cats display team were on their way back to their Yeovil base in Somerset after performing at an air show in Southend.

The damaged helicopter had suffered a cracked screen and was no longer airworthy.

Their arrival on the school field in Townley Road, Bexleyheath, at about 7.15pm, attracted a curious crowd of more than 100.

One, Lorraine Greening, said: “It took a fantastic piece of skilled flying by the pilot, as the rotor blades of the helicopter were only a few feet from the main building and lampposts.”

Another, Jason Harryman, said the crew had explained they had chosen the school field “to ensure the public were kept at a safe distance while the helicopters put down”.

The damaged helicopter has remained on the school field overnight and this afternoon the Navy have sent a lowloader to retrieve it.

It was too big to get access to the school grounds, so Townley Road is about to be closed while the helicopter’s rotors are removed and the helicopter lifted by crane over the school hedge, to be loaded.

The crew, who stayed with their craft overnight, said they had been overwhelmed with kindness by local people and Bexleyheath police station's canteen staff in bringing them hot drinks, hot food and other supplies.

Black Cats assistant Rob Dixon said: "We are very grateful for the support we received from the community and the local police catering staff which made the situation a lot easier for us."