A SPITFIRE and a Hurricane staged a flypast in honour of Battle of Britain veteran Terry Clark today as his funeral took place at York Cemetery.

Mr Clark, of Wheldrake, near York, one of the last two surviving veterans of the Battle, died earlier this month just hours before VE Day, aged 101.

Terry received the Distinguished Flying Medal and Battle of Britain medal and clasp for his bravery and service as an air gunner protecting York and the surrounding airfields during the battle after joining 219 Squadron, a Blenheim fighter unit based at Catterick, and he later served as a radar operator.

His grandson Joe said today that the Battle of Britain Association had asked for the flypast of the two Second World War planes to be staged over the cemetery in Cemetery Road, just before his funeral, which 10 family members were able to attend under the coronavirus restrictions.

He said Prince Charles, patron of the association, had asked a representative of the RAF to attend the service, who had brought a Union Flag to be draped over the coffin, which was presented to the family afterwards.

He added that the Prince had met his grandfather a couple of times and had written a 'lovely letter' to his parents about him.

The flypast brought local residents running out of their homes to watch the planes swooping by overhead.

Heather Tindall tweeted: "Just seen 2 Spitfires fly right over our flat! How cool."

But Tim Bruce tweeted:"Spitfire & Hurricane of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight," and Lynnette Cammidge, of The Press Camera Club, who took a picture of the planes flying over Badger Hill, agreed they were a Spitfire and a Hurricane.