PUPILS at a York school received some exciting visitors this week.

Former pupil and now Flight Lieutenant with the RAF Richard Minns visited Carr Junior School in Acomb, following a phone call with the headteacher, Caroline Ryder.

Flight Lieutenant Minns was training in North Yorkshire and said he wanted to visit his old school and give the children an opportunity to see the RAF helicopter he pilots.

The visit was part of the school's Inspire To Aspire initiative, which encourages pupils to have high aspirations for their futures.

A spokeswoman for the school said: "After waiting in great excitement for Richard and his crew to arrive, their first glimpse of the helicopter was when it arrived from nowhere over the school roof and over their waiting heads in the playground.

"After landing on the school playing field Richard spoke inspiringly to the gathered pupils, reminding them that if they work hard and want to do something in the way he has, that they can do anything if they really want to, whether that is flying helicopters, wanting to be in the RAF or whatever their ambition in life. The pupils then really enjoyed climbing aboard and learning more about the helicopter and its capabilities."

Miss Ryder thanked the former pupil and his crew, Flight Lieutenant Ian Putnam and Sergeant Ian Bateson, for the visit, which she said was "a very proud and emotional moment".