IT'S not everyday that a top army general drops in on a school unannounced -- especially when he makes an emergency landing by helicopter and lands on the school playing field.

It left teachers and pupils at Firwood Special School in a real spin.

They were in the middle of morning lessons when the army helicopter, carrying Major General James Shaw and being flown by the British helicopter pilot champion Ron Watkins, landed just 100 metres from classrooms.

The camouflaged helicopter was travelling to Holcombe Brook to meet up with the Manchester field hospital of the Territorial Army when it was forced to land in the nearest field because of fog.

Staff at the Crompton Way school dashed out to greet the general, who commands troops on operations across the world, as he emerged from the helicopter. General Shaw told them he hoped they did not mind him "dropping in."

Headteacher Dr Jonathan Steele said: "We heard a helicopter approaching and going overhead, which is nothing unusual. However, we started to hear it getting nearer and nearer and then it landed in the field.

"It was fine by us because we don't use that field very much and all the children were inside the building, so there was no safety risk."

To the delight of the school's 80 pupils, who have severe learning difficulties, the general was taken on a tour around the school by Dr Steele. "It was a great delight to all the students," he said.

"They thought it was wonderful that the helicopter landed in the field and they were very pleased to see a general."

Eventually, a car arrived to take the general to Holcombe Brook. The helicopter was able to fly on after a 30-minute stay on the field.