A ROYAL Air Force Chinook helicopter has been left stranded after it broke down in a field in Dorset.

Local photographer, Lewis Johnstone, shared images of the aircraft left near Bere Regis on Saturday.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said the Chinook had an engineering issue which is currently being sorted.

It is hoped that the helicopter will be fixed by the end of the weekend.

Chinooks are versatile support helicopters that can be operated from land bases or ships in a range of environments.

The aircrafts are primarily used for trooping, resupply and battlefield casualty evacuation.

Chinooks can carry up to 55 troops or up to approximately 10 tonnes of mixed cargo.

They can also be used in search and rescue and supporting specialist tasks such as Military Aid to the Civil Authorities commitment.

Chinooks have also previously been used as part of the iconic Bournemouth Air Festival.