MEMBERS of the Calne Air Cadets were astonished at their annual inspection when a four-metre long helicopter was wheeled up before them.

Although the cadets knew that Project Woka Woka would be unveiled before their inspection on Tuesday, September 13, they were not expecting to help rebuild a large helicopter, built and donated by the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers based at RAF Colerne.

After the helicopter was advertised for collection on Facebook, John Shearsby, one of parents involved with the Air Cadets, picked it up and stored it in his garage as a restoration project.

He said: "They knew that the press was going to turn up and that Project Woka Woka was going to be revealed so it was a surprise and even the boss Mike Webster hadn't seen it. It was a little bit bigger than he thought it would be and they are all quite surprised about it.

"It is nice that it is complete enough that we can see and use it but stuff does need to be done such as the electrics as the rotors go round and there is a button on the joy stick that makes noises for the machine gun. There is a chair inside the helicopter but we are thinking of putting a flight chair in instead but that will need to be welded in."

Anyone who is aged 13 to 17 and interested in joining Calne Air Cadets and helping with the restoration project is invited to the centre in Bryan's Close every Tuesday and Thursday from 6.45pm-9.30pm. Civilian instructors over the age of 20 are also welcomed.