A LARGE military aircraft which can carry vehicles and troops flew over the city this afternoon.

The Airbus A400M Atlas C.1 Airline from the Royal Air Force flew over the western side of Worcester from the RAF base in Brize Norton.

The large plane passed over Powick and Rushwick before heading in the direction of Stourport and is now heading over the north west in Lancashire (as of 2.15pm).

Entering operational service with the Royal Air Force in 2014, Atlas (Atlas C.1 A400M) provides tactical airlift and strategic oversize lift capabilities complementing those of the Hercules and C-17 fleets.

A spokesperson for the RAF said: "Atlas (Atlas C.1 A400M) has the ability to carry a 37-tonne payload over 2,000nm to established and remote civilian and military airfields, and short unprepared or semi-prepared strips. Capable of operating at altitudes up to 40,000ft, Atlas also offers impressive low-level capability.  

"It will accommodate as many as 116 fully-equipped troops; vehicles; helicopters, including a Chinook; mixed loads, including nine aircraft pallets and 54 passengers, or combinations of vehicles, pallets and personnel, up to a payload of 37 tonnes."