A MEMORIAL flypast over Weymouth and Portland to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day has been cancelled following the tragic death of a pilot in a crash.

Portland Town Council confirmed this morning that the flypast would not go ahead, as the Battle of Britain planes remain grounded following a fatal crash.

A spokesperson for Portland Town Council said: "Due to the unfortunate circumstances surrounding a Spitfire crash, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight have currently paused all operations. This means that the planned flypast over Portland on June 6 has been cancelled."

Last week, The Echo reported that the flypast was unlikely as the Battle of Britain planes were grounded.

The aerial spectacular featuring Second World War-era planes was set to be part of events across Weymouth and Portland organised for the landmark anniversary of Operation Overlord on Thursday, June 6.

Although the plans were subject to national commitments and weather, it was hoped that historic planes from the Royal Air Force's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) - including a Spitfire - would soar over Portland Bill, the Portland cenotaph, Victoria Gardens and the Weymouth cenotaph.

They were booked to fly over Weymouth and Portland as well as other places in the UK on the day.

It was thrown into doubt after a Spitfire from the team crashed in Lincolnshire and now it has been confirmed it will not go ahead.

The RAF has grounded the Flight amid an investigation into the death of a pilot.

Squadron Leader Mark Long was killed when the Spitfire he was flying crashed in a field near RAF Coningsby.