Residents could be awoken by the thrumming noise of a helicopter in the dead of night as Coastguard crews carry out training exercises.

From today, the emergency crews are conducting a series of test flights for the next weeks in the skies above Kent - lasting until 2.30am.

The Coastguard says the "essential training" will help the life-saving teams continue to deliver to highest level of service.

Scheduling is later due to extended daylight hours experienced in summer, and the late flights will run until Sunday, July 25.

The flights will start from the Coastguard base at Lydd.

A spokesperson said: “These scheduled training exercises are an essential element of our crews’ ongoing training and, while we appreciate they may cause a small level of disturbance to the local community, they are vital to ensure the ongoing resilience of the service, which exists to save the lives of those in danger on land and at sea.

“Our search and rescue helicopter crews across our 10 bases in the UK are available 365 days a year and can be tasked at any time to support members of the public in need.

"Training exercises such as this ensure our skilled crews can continue to deliver the highest level of service.”

Read more: All the latest news from Kent