CLERGY from the Yorkshire Dales held their latest monthly meeting well away from their usual parishes.

Nine members of the Ewecross Deanery Chapter visited RAF Linton-on-Ouse, near York, to learn of the need for low-flying near their communities and to gain an understanding of the chaplain's role within the RAF.

The clergy came from Sedbergh, Dent, Bentham, Burton-in-Lonsdale, Austwick and Clapham, sparsely populated areas used by pilots being trained.

The group was taken to Linton's flight planning room, where they received an in-depth explanation about how crews plan their missions.

The Reverend Chris Low, vicar of Burton-in-Lonsdale, said: "It was mind-boggling. I just hadn't realised how involved and complicated the process is."

The visit was the idea of the vicar of Austwick, the Reverend Ian Greehalgh.

A former RAF chaplain and now Rural Dean of Ewecross, he said it was important for parishioners to understand how pilots were trained.

He said: "The aim of the visit was to give members an appreciation of how the RAF goes about its business. The highlight was the visit to the Tucano simulator and seeing the faces of those who experienced the ride."

Before his Dales appointment, Mr Greenhalgh served with the RAF at many units, including Berlin. He was chaplain there when the wall came down in November 1989.

He is also thought to be the only RAF chaplain to have a building named after him. A sports pavilion at Strike Command headquarters, in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, was named the Greenhalgh Pavilion in recognition of his contribution to RAF athletics.