A celebration of 90 years of the RAF will take to the skies above the former Battle of Britain airfield at Manston on bank holiday Sunday.

A programme of flying displays is planned with the event opened at 10am by former spitfire pilot Denis “Bud” Abbott.

Weather permitting, the Swiss-built Pilatus can be seen at around 11.30am, while the Boeing Stearman biplane is scheduled for a visit at 2pm.

At 4pm the Spirit of Kent Spitfire will be in action, and the world-acclaimed RAF Red Arrows will be in the area on the day.

Land-based entertainment includes the Kent Air Ambulance and helicopters, military vehicles and wartime fire engines, the RAF at War re-enactment group, Thanet ATC Band, book signings, stalls plus activities for children.

The Spitfire and Hurricane Museum will be open to celebrate the area’s strategic importance in the history of the RAF, which was based at Manston until the Ministry of Defence withdrew in 1999 and sold the airfield. Admission is free to the event although there is a £2 donation towards car parking.