RESIDENTS of a rural community near Leominster have protested to Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon over a 'terrifying' low-flying incident.

People at The Yoke travellers' site at Upper Hill say they are frequently troubled by the noise of fighter planes swooping low over the site. But the latest incident, at night, was 'too much.' Lives were put at risk, they claim.

Site occupants say they were subjected to an ear-splitting sound at 10pm on Tuesday of last week. Caravans and trucks shook, a child screamed, sheep bolted and a high branch of a tree crashed to the ground.

Mark Eastgate, 48, a former aid worker in Africa, who came to live at the rural spot to recover from illness, says two aircraft - or a single plane returning for a second sortie - flew over the site at about 60 feet.

Mr Eastgate says he was awoken by the noise and got out of the 'shaking' truck in which he lives. "I heard a huge crack. A branch - from a tree 20 feet from my truck - came tumbling down. It crashed to the ground and broke into four pieces.

"I was furious. The pilots should be court marshalled - they could have killed innocent people.

"When I phone RAF Innsworth to complain I was asked if the planes were Tornadoes or Harrier Jump Jets, but how can you tell in the dark?

"They said RAF fighters should not fly below 500 feet - which is fair enough - but these flew exceedingly low. I could not get back to sleep for fear that another plane was coming."

Mr Eastgate, who claims there have also been daytime low flying incidents "where we could see the pilot's faces" complained at Leominster Police Station where he was told the incident would be investigated. He has also protested to the Defence Secretary.

"I may be fobbed off with the response that low flying is necessary for defence - but this is not a defence issue.

"It's a human rights issue. We are being subjected to very low flying aircraft on a regular basis and I don't see why we should have to put up with it."

A Royal Air Force press officer at the Ministry of Defence, London, said: "We have had two complaints about this incident and the MOD is investigating. We will be contacting the complainants.

"We take such complaints extremely seriously. Obviously we don't want to disturb anyone but our pilots have to practice low-flying. It's not a retained skill - it's not like riding a bike."

A mother at the site, Anna Fox, said her children - including a sick one-year-old son - were " absolutely terrified." She said: "The plane was so low the roof shook. The children couldn't get back to sleep because they were afraid of another 'attack.'

"I can't believe the MOD can get away with such utter disregard for the public who they are supposedly protecting. This is a form of physical violence."

l Bromyard pensioner Stella Phillips who has complained to the MOD on a number of occasions contacted The Hereford Times in response to recent disquiet over low flying.

"People should get together to put the pressure on, " she said, "I realise pilots have to train, but not to the detriment of so many people. Some of these incidents are terrifying, they cause such misery. Our cat dives for cover."