This little helicopter has been part of my son's toy selection since Christmas when we got it for him from the ELC. The helicopter has Police emblazoned across the side and is blue red and a yellowy orange. These are fairly true to the police helicopter colours here in the UK even if the yellow is a bit more orange here than the real life ones. The base is silver plastic again to match the real metal one a standard police helicopter. There are three buttons to the rear of the helicopter and two blades to the top of the helicopter.

Initially this was a toy that was opened on Christmas day and left to one side as he played with some of his larger toys however as time has moved on he has started to play with it more. The helicopter tends to be used alongside his cars and car mat to fly around and with him pressing the various buttons on the helicopter to get the cars attention. The buttons are actually situated quite close together and it is not unusual for some of them to be pressed together. I personally would of liked them to be spread out a bit further equally there is no on or off button so it is very easy for these to get pressed by mistake in the toy chest. The noises the helicopter makes are whirling sound as if the helicopter is in the air there are two that are very similar to me and I can't really tell them apart much and neither can my son he just views them as the noise the helicopter would make in the air. There is also a police siren type of noise that I have to say is very loud. When all of these are pressed lights flash at the same time both on top of the helicopter and one underneath that I think is supposed to represent search light. The lights whilst flashing are not particularly large and often the ones on the top are covered up by my son's hands as he holds it which takes something away from the effect of the helicopter. The lights really don't seem to add much to his pretend play in any way due to them being so small and he never comments on them at all unlike the noises which he refers to so the baddies know the police are after them. Comparing this helicopter to the fire helicopter we have from Playmobil I have to admit it that this one is not played with as much and this is due solely to the fact the can't put any of his figures in it as it is a sealed unit with no doors that open and this I think is a real shame as if you could fit a play person in it then I am sure it would be his favourite helicopter but as it is he just plays with it occasionally.

The helicopter is very robust and well made even the blades haven't broken off it in the 7 months of play and in it rattling around in the toy chest. It is fairly indestructible really and has coped well with being shot down by his knights to the floor without any damage to it.

The age suggest for this toy is 3 plus but personally I think it would be fine for a child from 2 to 2 and half on wards as it is quite robust and the only small parts are the propeller blades and these are firmly in place.

Battery life seems to be good for this toy and we have not yet had to replace the battery in it but this would be simple to do with a screw underneath the body of the helicopter.

Overall this is a good little helicopter but it is not my sons favourite due to the fact that it can't open to put people in and the lights are not really anything special. I think it is a 3 stars toy in the whilst it is ok it is nothing special for £8 and my son prefers to use his Playmobil one that has no lights and sounds and make his own noises.