VILLAGERS today called for the Dorset Police helicopter to scramble for good from its Winfrith base.

The plea came after they won a battle to keep the state-of-the-art aircraft grounded between 2am and 7am when Purbeck District Council's planning committee met last week.

Councillor Malcolm Shakesby has launched a campaign to force the helicopter to quit the Dorset Police base at Winfrith for good and move to the east of the county.

He said: "There are 10 residents at East Burton.

"It isn't possible for them to go bed with their windows open at night because of the noise and fumes.

"As far as I am concerned the helicopter should not be here. It is a human rights issue and I am starting a campaign to have it removed.

"It is totally unacceptable for these people to have to endure this ongoing noise."

He added: "I have no problem with it if it is being used properly. The problem is the time that the aircraft is sat on the ground with its blades chunking, when it is not going anywhere."

The planning committee decision was marred last week by a row over comments made by Coun Shakesby about 'gung-ho' police pilots - an allegation Dorset Police fiercely disputed.

Now Coun Shakesby is to probe conditions from the original planning permission for the helicopter regarding noise levels and flight rules. He will also investigate how much time the aircraft spends in the east of the county. He has called for the helicopter to be moved to east Dorset, near Bournemouth and Poole, if more than 60 per cent of its flights are in that area.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said the force would consider whether to appeal against the council decision after receiving the committee's written judgement.

David Griffith, chief inspector of operations, said the aircraft needed to fly around the clock as many criminals operated at night. He also defended his air crews against Coun Shakesby's comments that they were 'gung-ho', must have 'flown in Vietnam' and that they failed to stick to flight plans.

He added that UK pilots were among the best in the world and had to stick to rigorous regulations and guidelines.