A PATRIOT has come up with a novel way of making sure we don't forget those who sacrificed their lives in the Battle of Britain.

In 20ft letters, Tommy Delaney has mown the words The Few into his field at Delaneys Farm in New Road Hill, off Shire Lane, Farnborough.

To make them visible to planes flying above, he filled in the letters using several rolls of white wallpaper.

News Shopper: Farmer creates 20ft sign in field to remember The Few

Father-of-four Mr Delaney, whose field lies beneath the flightpath to Biggin Hill Airport, claims pilots flying over would be able to see the sign.

The 63-year-old says pilots from the Surrey and Kent Flying Club have already described it as "brilliant".

Underneath The Few, he has also produced a large V sign with a cross inside in memory of the Red Arrows pilot Flt Lt Jon Egging, who died when his plane crashed at the Bournemouth Air Festival in August.

Explaining the inspiration behind the sign, Mr Delaney, of Windsor Drive, Chelsfield, said: "Those in the Battle of Britain gave their lives not just for England but for the whole of civilisation, so that we would never be ruled by Nazi tyranny.

News Shopper: Farmer creates 20ft sign in field to remember The Few

"When I'm standing up there in the mornings, and the sun is coming up and the birds are singing, I think of the gratitude and debt that we all owe them all.

"We must never ever forget them.

"Had it not been for them, none of us would be able to walk freely in this paradise of democracy."

News Shopper: Farmer creates 20ft sign in field to remember The Few

WAS TOMMY PAID A VISIT BY ONE OF THE FEW?

As documented in Bob Ogley's Ghosts of Biggin Hill, ghosts of airmen have been reported to walk the country lanes wearing full flying gear.

They have also been seen inside St George's Chapel, one of the finest memorials in Britain to The Few, which lies opposite the old mess at Biggin Hill.

But it was at around 8.30am on Sunday while Mr Delaney was putting the finishing touches to the sign, that he heard someone calling out his name.

Mr Delaney, whose father served at Biggin Hill in Air Raid Precautions, said: "I distinctly heard someone calling 'Tom, Tom'.

"I thought it was someone shouting from the road, but I swear on the bible, there was nobody there."

But whether he was paid a visit by one of The Few, will remain a mystery.