POLICE helicopters hovering over the city may have deprived Hereford residents of their sleep last night.

Many took to social media to question what was happening, as the helicopters appeared to make a sweep of the city as the clock approached midnight.

But police have made an assurance that the late-night flight was necessary.

In a tweet, Herefordshire Operations Patrol Unit said: "Stolen vehicle located in Hereford city this evening. Recovered and will soon be returned to the owner when SOCO (scenes of crime officers) have done their magic!

"Sorry to residents of the north of the city if National Police Air Service Almondsbury woke you, but we needed the benefit of the eye in the sky."