A SECOND World War Spitfire will fly over sixteen hospitals in the North-East and North Yorkshire tomorrow - and will deliver a 'thank you' message to NHS workers.

The blue photo-reconnaissance Spitfire, which has the message 'THANK U NHS ' emblazoned under its wings, is touring hospitals around the UK as it takes flight to raise funds for NHS Charities Together.

The names of 80,000 ‘loved ones’ are currently being hand written onto the family-owned aircraft as a way of recognising small acts of kindness throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, reports the York Press.

The Spitfire is due to start its journey across the region with a flight over the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton at 11.10am tomorrow (September 16), although plans could change subject to weather and airspace.

It will then make its way across to the Darlington Memorial Hospital at 11.15am, before landing at Teesside Airport for a two-hour hiatus.

It will then depart Teesside Airport at 2pm, before reaching James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough at 2.04pm, the University Hospital of Hartlepool at 2.08pm and then onto County Durham and Tyne and Wear.

Here is where and when you can see it in the region:

- Peterlee Community Hospital 2.10pm

- University Hospital of North Durham 2.14pm

- Lanchester Road Hospital 2.15pm

- Chester-le-Street Hospital 2.17pm

- Sunderland Children's Hospital 2.20pm

- Sunderland Royal Hospital 2.22pm

- Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead 2.25pm

- RVI, Newcastle 2.27pm

- Newcastle Freeman Hospital 2.28pm

- Hexham General Hospital 2.34pm

- Haltwhistle War Memorial Hospital 2.39pm

What the owner of the Spitfire has said

John Romain, founder and managing director of Aircraft Restoration Company, which owns the Spitfire, said: “The response to our initial flight over the last 8pm #clapforourcarers Thursday was incredibly humbling, with hundreds of people from the local community sharing how wonderful it was to not only see the Spitfire, but also to read the message emblazoned across its wings.

"After such positive response we decided to leave the message painted on the Spitfire for the rest of the flying season, this is where the idea to hand write the names of the nation’s loved ones onto the aircraft to raise money for the NHS Charities Together began.”

People can nominate a loved one in return for a donation to the NHS charity by visiting: JustGiving.com/nhsspitfire