Aviation history in Cumbria celebrated with monuments

A granite monument has been installed in Windermere

Six former airfields in Cumbria are to be commemorated with granite memorials.

The Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust (ABCT) said the monuments would acknowledge the locations as heritage sites and highlight their contribution.

A 4ft (1.2m) high memorial was unveiled at Windermere earlier and others will be unveiled in Hutton-in-the-Forest, Kingstown, Silloth and Brayton.

The simple grey inscribed stones are funded by private donations. About 1,300 will be installed around the UK.

Established in 2006, the Trust aims to erect a memorial at each known disused airfield site in Britain in order to provide a permanent reminder for future generations.

Kenneth Bannerman, who founded the charity, said: "Cumbria is steeped in aviation history.

"These airfields played a crucial role not only in World War Two but Windermere's original airfield also pioneered the start of seaplane flying in Britain.

ABCT wants to make sure these places, and the people who served there, are not forgotten."

Memorials will be unveiled on Saturday at Hutton-in-the-Forest near Penrith and at Kingstown in Carlisle.

On Sunday monuments at Silloth and Brayton near Aspatria will be unveiled.