THE 60th anniversary of the defining air battle of the Second World War will see people gathering across North and East Yorkshire to remember the Few.

Battle of Britain memorial events will be held across the area to honour all those who helped to fend off a major air offensive from the Luftwaffe.

The Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, near York, will host the annual Royal Air Force Association Commemoration of the Battle of Britain on Sunday.

The event will feature a fly-past by the Hurricane and Spitfire of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and also Bulldog aircraft from the Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron.

The commemoration service takes place in the museum's main hangar, which boasts a spectacular background of historic aircraft.

The event has become the largest of its kind in the north of England.

The colourful occasion, which will see many regimental standards being paraded, will be enhanced by the Queen's Colour of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment.

Support from the RAF will see senior officers at the service with an Air Vice Marshal taking the salute. The Support Squadron RAF Leeming will be present and music from the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment, based at Cranwell, will also feature.

Members of Air Training Corps squadrons from across the area will provide additional music and a guard of honour.

The event will conclude with the Sunset Ceremony and the lowering of ensigns.

In York, a freedom march will see members of the Royal Air Force, from RAF Linton-on-Ouse, parade through the city on Sunday, September 17.

The Lord Mayor of York, Shan Braund, together with the civic party, will be at the South Transept of York Minster to welcome the troops.

A Battle of Britain service will be held in the Minster. It is expected to include the reading of the Freedom Scroll - which decrees the RAF base's rights to the freedom of the city.

At Eden Camp war museum, near Malton, its Ninth Annual Remembrance Parade takes place on Sunday, September 10, when members of a range of veterans associations will gather at the camp. The parade will assemble just after 2pm before marching to the camp's memorial led by the Yorkshire Volunteers Band and followed by standards. Last year 126 standards were paraded.

If you took part in the Battle of Britain and want to share your memories, then write to Chris Titley, Features Department, Evening Press, PO Box 29, 76/86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN.