Second World War planes flew over Kent to commemorate a key date of the Battle of Britain today.

This is the exact 75th anniversary of The Hardest Day, which saw the biggest battles with heavy aircraft losses on both sides.

To mark the milestone, a total of 18 Spitfires and six Hurricanes divided into three formations of eight, and took off from the former RAF Biggin Hill in Bromley.

The aircraft soared over the former RAF Hawkinge and the Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne.

One of the formations, called the Hamlyn Flight, headed for Dover and past Shepway, while another went over the Battle of Britain airfields at West Malling and Detling. A third travelled to Portsmouth.

Miserable weather at Capel-le-Ferne failed to deter scores of people turning out to watch the flypast.

They were organised by the London Biggin Hill Airport Community.

The Hamlyn planes flew above Capel before heading over Pluckley, Little Chart, Hothfield, Great Chart, Ashford, Willesborough, Hinxhill, West Brabourne, East Brabourne, Stowting, Monks Horton, Postling, Etchinghill, Arpinge and Paddlesworth.

On August 18, 1940, the Luftwaffe made a concerted effort to wreck the RAF Fighter Command. The battles in the sky that day were among the largest to date.

Up to 63 British aircraft were destroyed in mid-air or on the ground and up to 71 Germans ones were wrecked.

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Both sides had lost more aircraft that day that any other point during the entire three-month Battle of Britain.

While neither side was classed as the outright winner of The Hardest Day, the Germans suffered far more loss of life with 94 dead against 10 British.