A replica of a Battle of Britain aircraft is to be transported - slowly - 240 miles to its new Kent home today.

The Boulton Paul Defiant replica plane will be accompanied by two lorries, a wide load escort vehicle and a minibus full of museum volunteers from its old home of RAF Cosford.

It will make the arduous journey, at just 40mph, to the Kent Battle of Britain Museum Trust.

But it will stop traffic in more ways than one: it stretches across 18ft 6ins wide - or the width of two carriageways.

The replica was built by the Boulton Paul Association, by former employees, at their old factory at Wolverhampton over many years.

It is estimated that it took over 50,000 man hours to build, using many original parts.

But in March 2013 the Boulton Paul Heritage Museum was forced to disband.

An offer by the RAF Museum to accept the entire collection of artefacts and historic documents was accepted.

But after several twists and setbacks, the museum was later told that not all of the collection could be held, and some exhibits would even have to be scrapped.

Dave Brocklehurst MBE, chairman, historian and volunteer of the Kent Battle of Britain Museum Trust had wanted to display a Boulton Paul Defiant at the Museum since he joined as a 10-year-old volunteer more than 35 years ago.

There is, though, only one original in existence, displayed at the RAF Museum in Hendon.

After making approaches to see if the Battle of Britain Museum could take on the Defiant, he had an email out of the blue from the Boulton Paul Association asking if he was still interested.

Minutes later he was on the phone saying "Yes, Yes Please!".

The plane's new home could help cement its place in history.

Everyone has heard of the iconic Hurricane and Spitfires, and the Battle of Britain, but few have heard of the Boulton Paul Defiant.

There were two squadrons that flew operationally in the Battle of Britain and both Squadrons were decimated in July and August 1940.

No. 141 Squadron, on their first encounter with the enemy on July 19 1940, flying from their base at RAF Hawkinge, were nearly wiped out within sight of the airfield.

The day has become known as the "Slaughter of the Innocents".

The convoy will be travelling down the M40, M25, M26 and M20 on the way to the Hawkinge museum.