A priest has praised the skills of a 999 helicopter crew who landed in a church car park.
The air ambulance stunned residents as it flew low over Ilkeston to bring urgent medical help to a patient.
The yellow and black chopper came down on the car park behind St Thomas of Hereford Catholic Church off Stanton Road. The council car park nearby had vehicles in it and people crossing.
Father Andrew Harding witnessed the safe landing and take-off an hour later, describing it as “expert flying” to land on an area which could take up to around 40 cars.
He said: “I am only really aware of the size of it when I am trimming the hedges around it.
“It was fortuitous because if it had been there five minutes later, I would have been conducting a baptism. The thundering would have dominated my voice.
“There is a degree of space but he got into it and flew out backwards. It is quite a technique.”
The incident took place at around 2pm yesterday Sunday July 18.

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