WEYMOUTH'S iconic Jubilee Clock was today being lit up in red, white and blue to commemorate Battle of Britain Day.

Weymouth Town Council will be lighting up the clockface of the Jubilee Clock from dusk to mark the large-scale World War Two aerial battle which took place more than 80 years ago, and claimed the lives of hundreds of British servicemen.

The local area has strong connections to the Battle of Britain, with battles being fought in the skies above the south west. The 152 and 609 Squadrons, who were based locally in Warmwell, played an important role in protecting the south west coast and the Royal Navy base on Portland.

A memorial can be found at Bowleaze Cove which commemorates the 544 men who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the battle which took place between July 10 and October 31, 1940 and serves as a reminder of the local area’s involvement in the battle.

September 15, 1940 was officially named Battle of Britain Day as it was the day when RAF Fighter Command claimed what proved to be a decisive victory over the German Luftwaffe.

Cllr Colin Huckle, Mayor of Weymouth Town Council, who will also lay a wreath at the memorial at 3pm on Wednesday 15th September, said: “The Jubilee Clock is a proud symbol of Weymouth’s heritage and I’m delighted it can be used to give charities and good causes the opportunity to promote and raise awareness for their work.

“Additionally, I’m glad to see it being used to mark occasions such as the Battle of Britain Day as a mark of respect to those who fought for our freedoms. It is especially poignant considering the area’s strong connections with the Armed Forces and the Battle of Britain itself”.

The town council have been lighting up the clockface with different colours throughout the year to represent different charities, organisations and causes as part of its Light Up Our Jubilee Clock Scheme.

According to the Royal Air Force (RAF) website, in 1940 it experienced its greatest test in the Battle of Britain. Using science, ingenuity, and support from across the UK and overseas, the RAF defended the UK from Nazi Germany’s air force, the Luftwaffe. It was the first major battle fought entirely in the air, and Nazi Germany’s first major military defeat.