Pupils at a Lowestoft primary school were treated to a talk from an RAF serviceman, who encouraged the children to achieve their dreams.

Excited and enthusiastic youngsters looked to the skies earlier this week as a Sea King helicopter landed at Carlton Colville Primary School.

The visit from Flight Lieutenant Dan Easter on Monday links in with the school's programme called 'Be the best you can be,' which encourages the youngsters to have dreams and aim high in their lives – something which Flt Lt Easter addressed in his talk.

And as the children waved as the helicopter flew overhead, and then listened intently during Flt Lt Easter's talk, staff at the school in Gisleham Road were delighted with the special visit.

Carol Child, head teacher at Carlton Colville, said: 'The 'be the best you can be' programme is about getting the children to have bigger aspirations.'And finding role models that have achieved in their life and telling how they've been successful. It's about being brave and never giving up.'

Flt Lt Easter, who is a former pupil at the school, has been a pilot in the RAF for ten years which was something he had dreamed of doing since he was a youngster.

He gave a presentation to the school about his life and how the children should work hard to take up their dreams – and Mrs Child believes having someone like the pilot come to the school to visit the pupils can inspire them.

She said: 'We have very low aspirations in Suffolk and we need to get more and more aspirations into children's lives.

'Dan talked about his whole live, from being a pupil at the school and how he wanted to be a pilot when he was very young. He had lots of pictures of him rescuing people – he has flown a Chinook and has been to Afghanistan.

'He was talking about taking up your dreams and being the best you can be. He was so lovely to the children.'

The visit came about after Flt Lt Easter's mum, who is the pastoral and learning support leader at the school, asked how the school would like a visit from a helicopter because her son was an RAF pilot.

The visit was kept as a surprise as the children were asked to sit outside on the playground and look up to see in the distance the approaching Sea King helicopter from Wattisham airfield.

Mrs Child said the looks on the children's faces was a great sight: 'We told them to go out onto the playground as we have a special visitor and you need to look up,' she admitted.

'The helicopter circled around and the children were all waving. They were all over the moon. It's not every day you get a helicopter land on your school field.'

The school welcomes any ex-pupils to come and talk about their jobs and dreams to help inspire the children. If interested, contact Mrs Child on 01502 572682.

Is your school organising an event? Email lowestoft.journal@archant.co.uk