A spitfire is emblazoned with the names of 80,000 NHS heroes will fly across Kent this weekend.

The Aircraft Restoration Company flew their photo-reconnaissance blue Spitfire - PL983 ‘L’ - from its Duxford base every Thursday of the lockdown to thank key workers.

The weekly tradition spurred the group to paint a big 'THANK U NHS' on the underside of the plane.

However, the company now wants to go one step further - it's asking for people to nominate their heroes to have their name hand-painted on the aircraft.

In total, a capacity of 80,000 names has been set and the company has set up a simple way to nominate the people you're grateful to, while raising money at the same time.

On Saturday, the plane is heading south and will be flying over Kent hospitals at these times:

• Kent and Canterbury - 11.25am
• QEQM, Thanet - 11.30am
• Buckland Hospital, Dover - 11.37
• Royal Victoria, Folkestone - 11.42am
• William Harvey - 11.46am

The route starts and ends at Duxford and will pass over hospitals in Essex, Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset, Berkshire, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Hertfor and Oxford.

The Aircraft Restoration Company wrote: "If we are not flying near you on this occasion then please don’t be disheartened, we are planning official routes in different areas of the nation throughout Summer and we could well be nearer to you during a later one. Keep an eye on this space and we hope to be flying through the skies near you very soon.

Nominations should be sent in before the deadline of September 20.

If you would like to nominate someone for the honour, click here.

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