A LOW-flying helicopter spotted over a village near Burnley may have been taking part in an exercise, it has emerged.

The Ministry of Defence website said that an operation called Joint Warrior was taking place over northern England between October 6 and 17.

But the Army refused to comment on the sighting, at 7.30pm on Monday over Cliviger.

The Ministry of Defence was unavailable for comment.

Police said it was not their force helicopter and they had not been informed of any other flights.

One resident said: β€œIt had double propellers, so it looked like a Chinook.

"Maybe it was lost, but it circled the village about three times.

"It was very strange.”

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