A MILITARY training exercise is taking place in the skies above north Cumbria this week.

The Royal Netherlands Air Force has brought its Chinook, Apache and Cougar helicopters to Carlisle Lake District Airport where a temporary military base has been created.

The Dutch air force is training 250 troops at RAF Spadeadam, near Brampton.

It described the Cumbrian base as a "high-quality" training ground due to its challenging terrain and varied range of radar threats.

Lieutenant Colonel Niels van den Berg said: "We are happy to be back at Carlisle Lake District Airport and at RAF Spadeadam.

"Carlisle Lake District Airport is five minutes flying from the Spadeadam Range and that means that we can train very efficiently.

"The airport provides us with almost all necessary conditions such as fuel, fire brigade, food and air traffic control.

"The employees of Carlisle Lake District Airport are very hospitable and flexible, and they are always there for you.

"At RAF Spadeadam we can offer the aircrews high-quality training in challenging terrain with a varied range of radar threats.

"Spadeadam Range is a unique location in Europe. It offers the perfect mix to exercise on the highest level-low-flying, chaff deployment and real-life radar systems."

The 250 troops, 80 vehicles and eight rotary aircraft will use Carlisle airport as a base in order to get a hot meal and refuel.

Two cranes have installed 56 containers that will form a self-contained compound for the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Fuel tanks capable of holding 75,000 litres have also been put in place.

The airport will provide more than 6,900 meals over the three-and-a-half-week exercise in a purpose-built marquee that can seat 130 troops at a time.

Paul Martland, the airport's general manager, said: “We are delighted to welcome back the Royal Netherlands Air Force for the first time since 2016.

"The arrangement is all part of the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s UK training for their annual exercise programme.

"We had to compete against UK Military bases in order to secure the arrangement. However, the Royal Netherlands Air Force chose to work with us thanks to our airport infrastructure and the confidence gained during their advanced assessment inspection in December 2018."

The agreement will not interfere with the commencement of commercial passenger flights but will provide additional revenue to support the airport’s commercial viability.