Two major air displays in the county are playing a waiting game after the Royal Air Force announced it was temporarily grounding its Battle of Britain Memorial Flight display team.

The RAF made the announcement today (Monday) following the death of a Spitfire pilot following a crash near RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Saturday.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight consists of a Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster bomber. They are booked to perform a packed calendar at airshows around the country.

Among them are Armed Forces Day in Folkestone on June 30 and the Battle of Britain Airshow at Headcorn on July 5.

The Folkestone event, organised by Folkestone Town Council, is expecting crowds of some 60,000 visitors and also includes displays by modern military aircraft and ground-based attractions. It is also expecting a visit from the Red Arrows.

The flying aces are scheduled to provide a 22-minute air display as part of the event.

A council spokesman now told KentOnline: “Plans for Armed Forces Day Folkestone will continue unless we receive advice to the contrary from the Ministry of Defence or RAF.”

The event at Headcorn Aerodrome runs from July 5 to 7. It will feature flying displays by aircraft from the era in 1940 along with family attractions and re-enactments.

The RAF says the decision to ground the display team is temporary while investigations into the crash continue.

The tragedy saw Sqn Ldr Mark Long die after the Spitfire he was piloting crashed into a field.

KentOnline has also contacted organisers of theHeadcorn event for a formal response.