THE MINISTRY of Defence has denied any wrongdoing following a Wotton-under-Edge woman's complaint of low flying.

Fiona Wright, of Durand Court, complained to the MoD following the incident on Monday, March 2 2004.

Miss Wright said that when she was driving from Chipping Sodbury towards Wickwar with her 73-year-old mother Barbara, a military helicopter descended almost to ground level and swerved in front of her white Fiat Uno. She told the Gazette at the time: "I thought it was going to kill us."

Miss Wright, 47, was interviewed by a MoD investigator and was initially told she would have a reply within 15 days.

But this week Miss Wright said she had only just received a reply and the MoD had denied the incident occurred.

"It is a whitewash," she said.

"We knew that they were going to deny this had happened. It makes me angry. He kept pace with me and he came in front of my car - he obviously hadn't checked there was anything about but The MoD has he has done nothing wrong.

"I think they should apologise but if they apologise they are admitting they were wrong. If the pilot was found guilty it would be very serious for him. "I am furious but I can't do anything about it. I don't think they should be allowed to get away with it.

"The gentleman who interviewed me said it could take several months for a reply but a year is too long. The letter is not even from the gentleman who interview me."

She added: "I did the right thing reporting it and the letter is not good enough. I don't care what the experts said. We didn't tell lies and it happened as we said it did."

In a letter, dated February 10, Barbara Stephens, Directorate of Air Staff Complaints and Enquiries Unit, said: "The aircraft responsible was identified as a Merlin Helicopter departing from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire. This was a standard training sortie to maintain currency in tactical low flying, instrument flying and general handling.

"The captain categorically denied any such incident took place. In addition he confirmed that at no time did he consider or believe that his handling of the aircraft constituted a hazard for any motor vehicle.

"He did not remember observing a white car or felt the need to be aware of any motor vehicles throughout the sortie. "

She added that the MoD had not identified any breech of flying regulations.