I am writing to record an ­incident that happened to me at around 10.45pm one day this week.

Both me and wife were just starting to go to sleep when we heard gunfire from the direction of the naval college. I am a firearms owner, and so I knew it was rifles firing sporadically.

I looked out of our window on Townstal Road, and looking down the hill I could see a helicopter hovering over the area. A large number of dogs were also barking at the noise.

I had no way of knowing this was not an exercise. I decided to call the police as I was not aware of anything going on at the college and due to the security situation.

While on the phone to them, my wife saw online comments regarding the issue, and one of the college employees ­mentioned that there was an exercise involving blank rounds going on. The police did not seem to know of this.

Considering the situation, would it not be prudent for Britannia Royal Naval College to post a notice in the Chronicle to avoid distress to people or their pets.

More importantly, at least notify the police so as not to waste their time or even ­provoke an armed response.

R John Gibson

Townstal Road, Townstal

Dartmouth