ROYAL Air Force helicopters will be flying over Hereford today (Wednesday) with guns fitted in the doors.

But residents are being told not to panic if they see the aircraft in the skies over the county this afternoon as they'll be part of a training exercise.

A tweet from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire said: "Puma helicopters will be operating in the Cardiff and Hereford areas this afternoon and late into the evening to conduct essential training for our crews.

"The aircraft will have guns fitted in the doors but this is for training purposes and they will not be carrying any rounds."

The RAF said the Puma aircraft are used in a variety of combat roles, including the tactical movement of troops, weapons, ammunition and stores on the battlefield, as well as the extraction of casualties and in response to medical emergencies on the frontline.

They can also be used during non-combatant evacuations, and humanitarian and disaster relief operations.