THE arrival of Airbus' long awaited Beluga XL passed peacefully and without incident, a police inspector has said.

Earlier this month aviation enthusiasts flocked to Flintshire to see the massive aircraft touch down at Hawarden Airport.

Inspector Darren Whibberley, inspector for South Flintshire, said: "The Beluga XL attracted unprecedented numbers of enthusiasts and onlookers which caused significant traffic disruption for a time.

"We hope all those who attended got the opportunity to see it as they wanted and trust local residents were not inconvenienced.

"The whole event passed off peacefully."

The distinctive aircraft, the first of five that will eventually replace the current fleet of standard Beluga transporters, made its maiden test flight from Toulouse last July, streamed live at the Farnborough International Airshow.