BRAVE servicemen and women who participated in the Battle of Britain are to be honoured at a commemorative service in Trafford on Sunday.

The council is hosting the service at Sale Town Hall more than 80 years after the campaign, which happened in the summer and autumn of 1940.

After the service, which starts at 10.30am, a bugler will perform The Last Post and a two-minute silence will be held at 11am.

Cadets from Trafford will also perform a commemorative march in the presence of Mayor of Trafford, Cllr Laurence Walsh, and other dignitaries from across the borough.

Sue Wright, the council's armed forces lead, who helped to organise the service, said: "It's 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.

"Their bravery won us the freedoms we enjoy today."

Between Britain's Royal Air Force and Germany's Luftwaffe, the Battle of Britain was the first campaign in history to be fought in the air alone.

Germany struggled for air superiority in the lead up to a land invasion, but the Luftwaffe failed to overcome the RAF's Hurricanes and Spitfires.

Both sides suffered heavy losses in the process, with almost 550 pilots from Britain and 2,500 pilots from Germany killed.

Adolf Hitler was forced to abandon the land invasion.

Cllr Judith Lloyd, the council's armed forces champion, said: "It'll be a massive honour to pay tribute to all those who fought bravely in the Battle of Britain.

"The battle was a turning point in World War Two.

"If the RAF had not held off the Luftwaffe, Hitler would've moved forward with his Operation Sealion invasion of the British Isles.

"We can never underestimate how important this victory was for all of our freedoms. We'll never forget those who fought so hard."

Unlike last year, when the service was limited due to social distancing and a limit on public gatherings, this year's service will be at full capacity.

The public is therefore invited to gather at Sale Town Hall on Sunday at 10.30am.