Loud explosions heard across the Cotswolds and North Wiltshire last night were part of pre-planned exercise at Cotswold Airport.

Small controlled explosions took place between 9pm and 10pm as part of a multi-agency exercise.

A spokesman for Gloucestershire Police said: "Please be reassured that this is a routine exercise and is designed to test and strengthen the national response to a terrorist incident.

"It is not in response to any recent intelligence or threat."

A spokesman for the Cotswold Airport Team added: "This is a planned exercise at the airport.

"The police and specialist units are fully aware and will be around in force."