A display over Cheshire by a veteran Spitfire will go ahead this weekend to mark the 80th anniversary exhibition of D-Day.
The Second World War Mark1V fighter will fly over Goostrey on Saturday after the organisers managed to raise £7,800 to book the plane from a private company in Goodwood with a fleet of veteran Spitfires.
There were fears the flight would not take place after the death of the pilot from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which has been grounded following his tragic accident.
But the organisers have been assured the flight will not be affected by the investigation into the tragedy and can take place as planned before flying to another venue at Lee on Solent, near Portsmouth.
In the journey south it will fly over Butt Lane, Kidsgrove, near Stoke-on-Trent, which was the birthplace of the designer, Reginald Mitchell, in 1895.
The display by the fighter, built shortly after D-Day, is timed for around 2pm and will not clash with the Women's Cycling Tour of Britain through Goostrey, which will close the road until two hours before.
Paddy Fagan, a parish councillor who organised the D-Day Commemoration, said: "The event including the Spitfire display has been fully funded by very generous individual donations and from three parish councils and companies.
Silhouetted soldiers with bowed heads in remembrance of the heroes who fell during the war (Image: Paddy Fagan)
"We decided on booking the Spitfire display as part of our exhibition and attractions on D-Day plus two to help raise awareness of the 80th anniversary.
"It has created a lot of interest but I keep getting people saying it will not take place but I can assure everyone it will happen weather permitting, of course.
"It is owned by a private company who have a number of Spitfires you can book for special events or even fly in one. They are not affected by the grounding of the RAF Memorial Flight."
The D-Day event in the Scout and Youth Centre opens at noon with the flight scheduled for around 2pm.
Main Road closes for a brief spell in the morning for the women's cycling tour but it will open by 12.15pm
Any donations and profits from sales at the event, including refreshments, will be donated to the Royal British Legion.
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