RESPECT was paid to wartime heroes as the region marked the 70th anniversary of the Battle Of Britain.

Visitors journeyed back to the 1940s for the Mold Salutes gala weekend, which included a fly-past by The Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota.

Veterans were on hand to meet members of the public who could also see a display of military vehicles, interviews produced by pupils from local schools and Glyndwr University, and a memorial parade.

Mold Salutes was set up by local people who thought it important to mark the anniversary of one of World War II’s pivotal battles in Flintshire.

In 1940 there were four operational RAF bases within ten miles of Mold, where many Battle Of Britain pilots were trained before joining front line squadrons.

Airbus now occupies the historic RAF Hawarden airfield site.

The aerial campaign began in summer 1940 and saw RAF pilots as young as 19 fight off the German Luftwaffe in the skies over southern England and the English Channel.

Between July 10 and the end of October more than 500 young pilots lost their lives, with those who flew the Spitfires and Hurricanes famously becoming known as
The Few.

Money collected over the weekend will go to support the work of The Battle Of Britain Memorial Trust and the Help for Heroes charities.