VULNERABLE people will suffer because of noisy planes flying over Worcester, says a psychologist.

Roger Nall is deeply concerned that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not explained why two "nuisance" planes are flying over city skies or when they will stop.

A red Britten Norman Islander and a Hercules have been flying over the city between 10am and 6pm on weekdays, the Hercules since last summer and the Islander since last autumn.

Chartered psychologist Mr Nall, aged 68, of Ombersley Road, Worcester, said: "My concern is for the old folk around here who may find this difficult.

"This is really distressing. It might be quite a trial for someone lying in bed ill with nothing else to do but listen to these planes.

"The MOD hasn't the courtesy to tell us what the planes are doing there.

"They treat us like children. People are being treated with contempt and that's so irritating."

Mr Nall, who edits newsletter The Messenger which has featured articles on the plane, has already written to Worcester MP Mike Foster and the MOD's Complaints and Enquires Unit to complain.

He said a senior defence official let slip that the planes could be flying over Worcester until at least 2010.

Defence minister Derek Twigg has apologised to the people of Worcester in a letter to Mr Foster for the noise caused by the planes, which he said were flying at 20,000 feet.

But Mr Nall said they must be flying under that height or it would be impossible to take photographs of them - your Worcester News now has pictures of both planes in flight.

Mr Nall added: "It's driving people mad.

"The MOD says it's not illegal, as if that somehow makes it alright."

Pilot Ian Cranston, of Worcester, took a photograph of the red plane and believes it is a charter plane being used by the Ministry of Defence.

An MOD spokesman said he had nothing to add beyond what had already been said by defence minister Derek Twigg.

The spokesman was unable to confirm what the planes were being used for or when they would stop flying.

He said: "We don't talk about specific aircraft or assets."

An article in The Guardian newspaper last October suggested that intelligence agencies were using Britten Norman Islanders to eavesdrop on terrorists' telephone conversations on the ground.

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