A CHINOOK from RAF Odiham has been airlifting a special bridge as part of a training exercise with the Royal Marines in Cornwall.

The training mission took place near St Austell and involved a Chinook from 18 (B) Squadron that has been temporarily based at RNAS Culdrose in the duchy.

The lift, which had not been done for 10 years, saw the Chinook take off with a maritime bridge from the ship MV Hartland Point.

A ground party from 24 Commando Regiment Royal Engineers manned rigging lines once the Chinook reached the beach at Carlyon Bay, so that the bridge could be lowered in the right position.

Ramps and a deck were then placed on the bridge before it was dismantled and taken back to the merchant ship.

The training was part of Exercise Cougar, a three-month training exercise in conjunction with Royal Marines that will be conducted in coastal waters off Cornwall, the Adriatic and the Mediterranean.