VINTAGE uniforms and model aircraft filled the green in Lyneham over the weekend as hundreds of people gathered to remember 100 years of the Royal Air Force.

A great British tea party, laden with refreshments, was held in the village on Saturday by the Parish Council to honour current and ex-servicemen and women.

The event, which ties in with national celebrations of the centenary, has so far raised over £2,100 for the RAF Benevolent Fund, but that figure is expected to grow.

"The parish council decided last year that we should celebrate the royal air force centenary as there are a number of ex-RAF personnel in the village," Geoff Jackson-Haines, chairman of the parish council, said.

"It was a fantastic day and the music was just right, and people stayed all day.

"The children also got to do practical things like shooting bows and arrows and the corps even got a few sign ups."

A fly-by of a C-130 Hercules kickstarted the celebrations at noon, followed by entertainment by Chippenham Male Voice Choir, Chippenham Brass Band, Nicole Taylor and members of the Military Wives Choir.

Vintage vehicles and large scale plane replicas were also brought along to the event to show the development of the RAF over the last 100 years.

Castle Combe Brewery, who sold 200 pints in two hours, also sold out of beer by the end of the day.

"I have an awful lot of model air craft so they went on display too, and my daughter guarded them and listened to people’s stories about when they used to fly in them," the chairman added.

"It was nice for our children to hear about what it was like for us in the 60s, 70s, and 80s and be able to see equipment on display from then, as well as allow others to reminisce about times gone by.

"I never thought it would be so successful. The whole day has been brilliant."