The servicemen and women who fought in the Battle of Britain are to be honoured at an anniversary event in Trafford this weekend.

Trafford Council is hosting the event to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Britain at Sale War Memorial at 10.30am on Sunday, September 17.

The Battle of Britain took place in the summer and autumn of 1940 during World War II between Britain’s Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe, Nazi Germany’s air force, and was the first battle in history fought solely in the air.

Germany attempted to gain air superiority in preparation of an invasion of Great Britain but were defeated by Hurricane and Spitfire pilots, which forced Hitler to abandon his plans.

Both sides suffered heavy losses, with 544 British pilots killed and 2,500 Luftwaffe airmen dying during the battle.

Following the moving service, a bugler will play the last post and there will be a two minute’s silence at 11am, with young Trafford cadets also staging a commemorative march to pay their own tributes.

Cllr Judith Lloyd, Trafford Council’s Armed Forces Champion, said: “It will be a massive honour to again pay tribute to all those who bravely fought in the Battle of Britain. The battle was a turning point in World War II - if the RAF had not held off the Luftwaffe, Hitler would have moved forward with his Operation Sea Lion invasion of the British Isles.

“We can never underestimate how important this victory was for all of our freedoms.”

The Council’s Armed Forces Lead, Sue Wright, who is organising the service, said: “It is an honour to be able to commemorate those very brave pilots who took to the sky with no thought of their own safety during this fierce battle.”

Those in attendance at the service will include the Mayor of Trafford, Cllr Dolores O’Sullivan and Council Leader, Cllr Tom Ross.