A war veteran was surprised on his 100th birthday - with a special flight in a Spitfire.

Cyril Snelling, who served in the RAF as an aircraft fitter and engineer, thought he was getting a tour around a heritage hangar where old warbirds such as Spitfires and Hurricanes are restored and kept.

But he had an even bigger surprise in store when he was able to fly as a passenger in a two-seater version of the iconic World War two Spitfire fighter plane after bosses waived the normal fee of £2,550.

Cyril went to the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar at Biggin Hill Airport - a former RAF base - and was gobsmacked when told about the chance of a lifetime flight.

The pensioner - who has lived in Leafield Road in Sutton since 1960 - was an aircraft fitter-engineer in the Second World War from 1940 onwards, and worked on many aircraft engines including those on Blenheims, Spitfires and Lancasters.

He was with 53 Squadron which was a mobile unit and was moved around quite often without much notice.

He started his career in Uxbridge and then spent time at Gatwick, Detling, Scotland, Biggin Hill, Thorney Island, Norfolk, Northern Ireland, finishing up in Bombay and Bengal in India.

The veteran said it was “marvellous” way to celebrate his 100th birthday.

He added: “It was a big surprise I couldn’t believe it.

“Then we got up there and took off an away we went. After we got up to a fair height as we were flying along we saw different places from the air like Brands Hatch.

“The pilot said what about a roll – I said are we high enough – and he said yes.

“After he said right the joystick is yours and he told me climb up a bit. It was quite a thrill really to have control of it.”

Paul Campbell, project manager at Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, said the centenarian was “absolutely delighted” with the surprise.

“It was one of those days that makes it all worthwhile,” he added.

“Although we don’t really offer free trips, heroes like him have already paid. It just seemed like the right thing to do.

“He had worked on the planes but never flown on one. He was buzzing afterwards.”