PUPILS whooped with anticipation as Army skydivers plunged towards their school pitch.

The Royal Logistic Corps' parachute display team hopped out of a plane at Larkmead School in Abingdon as part of a spectacular practice session.

Six members of The Silver Stars leapt into the air and looped down on Thursday morning, leaving a trail of swirling smoke as their multicoloured parachutes glided to the ground.

Army spokeswoman Sarah Hyde said: "The students were cheering and clapping. There was a group of girls who were just so taken back by what was happening and so pleased they got to see it.

"The team felt it was a perfect opportunity to engage with the community and school children and approached the school to scope the possibilities of conducting their jump in their home territory."

The performance was put on at the secondary school as part of the Silver Stars' pre-season training, which is mostly taking place at nearby Abingdon Airfield in Shippon.

Half of the jumpers made a three-person formation as they fell while the other three took the plunge separately, with two carrying Union Flags.

They also visited Dalton Pre-School Nursery on the barracks site on the same day, entertaining children with the same performance.

The Silver Stars are based in Gloucestershire but are set to tour