It’s not every day the dark shadow of an Apache helicopter gunship looms over Stevenage. But that’s exactly what happened at Peartree Spring Primary School today.

Pupils were amazed to watch the British Army aircraft fly low over the school before putting down in the playing fields and parents and passers by were equally awestruck.

Reception year leader Miss Aulsberry arranged for the pilots and ground crew of 4 Regiment Army Air Corps to fly in their fighting machine from Wattisham Airfield near Ipswich as part of the school’s Remembrance Week which it holds in the run up to armistice day on Saturday.

Deputy head Pauline Foley said: “We kept it as a complete surprise for the children so you can imagine their excitement as the helicopter appeared over our top field.

“The pilots and ground crew answered the children’s questions ranging from ‘How much did the helicopter weigh?’ to ‘Why is it called a ‘she’?

“The children have described the morning as ‘amazing’ and the ‘best day ever’.