A WARTIME Spitfire emblazoned with “Thank U NHS” flew over Essex as part of a special tribute to the amazing NHS heroes working during the coronavirus crisis.

The flight started at 10am when the aircraft took off from Duxford Airfield near Cambridge and it was spotted flying over Colchester Hospital at about 4.20pm today (Friday, July 10)

Gazette Camera Club members also saw the Spitfire flying over Eight Ash Green as it headed towards the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance's base in Earls Colne.

Explaining the motivation behind the flight, a spokesman for the Aircraft Restoration Company, which is behind the flypast, said: “It began with an idea - ‘Why don’t we fly our beloved blue Spitfire PL983 ‘L’ around the villages for the Clap for Carers this evening?

We can prepare the aeroplane as a household and it could really lift the community spirit.”

The aircraft restoration company organised flights across the country, with the Essex tour also seeing a Spitfire fly over Broomfield, Braintree and Basildon hospitals.