A SPITFIRE will fly past Dorset hospitals this weekend to thank hospital staff for their amazing work during the coronavirus pandemic.

Dorset residents can also nominate the name of a loved one or community hero to be written on the wings of the 'THANK U NHS' Spitfire.

This Saturday, August 1, the family-owned Aircraft Restoration Company’s blue photo-reconnaissance Spitfire will fly past hospitals along the south coast to raise money for NHS Charities Together.

It will take off from Goodwood Aerodrome at 3pm, before flying past hospitals including Poole Hospital and the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals in Dorset.

Ahead of the event, the public are now being offered the unique opportunity to nominate the name of a loved one that will be hand written onto the Spitfire.

The names will be nominated by the public as a way of recognising small acts of kindness throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. From a family member to a kind neighbour, close friend or community hero, the public can now thank them with this special gesture.

In return for their donation, their nominated name will be one of those written on the Spitfire, which has an 80,000 name capacity. As the names are added, the UK will be able to watch this extraordinary visual spectacle unfold.

The JustGiving.com/nhsspitfire fundraising page is open. To submit a name, the public will simply need to donate a minimum of £10 via the campaign’s JustGiving page, fundraising for the NHS Charities Together, whose funds support staff, patients and volunteers across the country. They will then need to state their loved one’s name and reason for nomination in their donation comment.

The aim is to lift the spirits of those across the UK, many of whom are still living in some form of isolation, whilst also thanking the hospitals, communities and individuals who have been at the forefront of getting the country through the pandemic.

The Spitfire was specifically built and used for photo reconnaissance during the conflict, carrying cameras instead of weapons. It was also flown and air-raced by the famous female ATA pilot Lettice Curtis.

The public will be able to view progress updates and carefully planned local flight routes via the Aircraft Restoration Company Instagram, Facebook and website.

Head to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nhsspitfire to be a part of this event.