MILITARY representatives from the Commonwealth and Europe took part in the annual Allied Air Forces Memorial Day at the Yorkshire Air Museum in Elvington.

But rainy weather meant that one visitor from across the Atlantic played her part in the weekend's events a day late.

Hurricane and Spitfire aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial flight flew over the museum at the end of the commemoration, at which the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Lord Crathorne, took the salute, watched by military attaches from France, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA, and a senior representative of the Royal Air Force.

Former servicemen and women from many Yorkshire and northern England British Legion and other military associations and 40 cadets took part in the ceremony at the Canadian Memorial Hangar. The Yorkshire Royal British Legion Marching Band and Corps of Drums led the parade.

Vera, one of only two surviving airworthy Lancasters in the world, had travelled from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Ontario, Canada, and had been due to fly over Allerton Castle on Saturday together with the other surviving airworthy Lancaster, which is now part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

The two aircraft only met for the first time a month ago and the mansion was the wartime home of No 6 Group of the Royal Canadian Air Force, which this year celebrates its 90th anniversary.

But bad weather meant Saturday's entire flying programme was cancelled including the Lancasters' iconic flight, though the planned wreath laying at Allerton Castle went ahead.

When clear skies dawned yesterday, they flew together over Elvington before heading north yesterday morning for flights in Scotland.