An aviation festival will be coming to the borough over the jubilee weekend to mark 100 years of aviation history in Kingston.

Kingston’s historic Market House and Market Place will be transformed into a hub of rich aviation history with flying enthusiasts having the opportunity to sit in famed aircrafts such as a Sopwith Camel.

The renowned Sopwith Camel will be on display in the Market Place for the very first time since 1918, when it was first built in Kingston.

The Hawker Hurricane and the Hawker Siddeley Harrier Jump Jet were also designed and built in Kingston.

Retired aircraft engineer and joint project leader David Hassard, 69, said: "It is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the people of Kingston to see what was originally built here, to appreciate what happened here and to take pride in it.

"Between 1912 and 1992 aviation was one of the single biggest employers in Kingston - we are hugely important to the history of Britain and the military."

Visitors to the festival will also be able to browse through an extensive exhibition including photographs, film footage and scaled models at the Market House for four days starting from Saturday, June 2.

There will also be reproduction of a 1914 floatplane on display – the first aircraft to win an international flying competition in Monaco that same year.

Mr Hassard said: "The float plane takes off on water. We have been working on it for nine months now and it is still incomplete, but it is as similar to the original as possible and we are very excited to show it.

"The festival is a wonderful opportunity for everyone – the Queen is celebrating her jubilee and we are celebrating our centenary, bringing both of these together make a great event."

The Kingston Aviation Festival will continue its year-long initiative by visiting schools, clubs and associations with its historical exhibition commemorating Kingston’s 100 years in aviation.

A grant of £49,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund has also been secured by the project to help raise awareness about the important role of aviation in Kingston.

A brand new website has been launched to coincide with the Kingston Aviation Festival. It will bring information, news and interviews from those who were involved in the design and build of an array of wonderful aircraft produced in Kingston over the last 100 years.

Visit kingstonaviation.org.