AVIATION lovers can enjoy a new interactive trail designed to provide a lasting legacy of the RAF base that once dominated a town centre.

Thornaby's military history was the focus a fun day to launch the the celebration of the town aviation legacy in the town's Pavillion shopping centre, where the RAF base once stood.

Thornaby airfield was the main base used by the RAF during the Second World War to protect Teesside’s vital industries from attacks by the Luftwaffe.

Pavilion Shopping Centre manager Oliver Westley said: “The history of the airfield and base at Thornaby is such an important part of our heritage that we really want to celebrate it.

“We have worked with residents at Halcyon Day centre in the town and pupils at Thornaby’s Bader Primary School - which is named after the Second World War aviation hero - to create silk paintings about the airbase.

“We would still love to hear from anyone who has stories of its past that they would like to share, or pictures and artefacts from Thornaby’s glory days as a vital part of our Forces.”

A propeller from one of the Hawker Demon bi-planes flown from Thornaby in the inter-war years is now displayed in the library at the Pavilion, and many of the town’s streets have names reflecting its aeronautical past.

A replica Spitfire plane stands on a town roundabout, plus a statue to all who served at the airbase has been built on the former airfield while there is a stained glass window dedicated to RAF Thornaby at St Paul’s Church.