THE National Trust at Croome will be stepping back in time with a weekend of nostalgia at its annual RAF Defford weekend event on Saturday and Sunday, July 11 and 12.

Aircraft exhibits, re-enactors, singers, vintage vehicles, rationing displays, book-signings and stalls will fill the grounds with a fly-past on Sunday over the parkland, near Pershore, that is hoped to be a fitting finale.

RAF Defford was a secret Second World War airbase within Croome’s parkland where war-winning airborne radar was developed and later used by the RAF, Fleet Air Arm and the US Forces during the war.

This annual event helps keep the memories of this extraordinary wartime era alive.

Becky Wilks, Croome's event officer, said: “Our annual RAF Defford event is always hugely popular and this year’s is even bigger and better.

“We are particularly looking forward to welcoming singers D Day Darlings who will be taking visitors right back to the heart of the 1940s with their nostalgic tunes on Sunday and, if the weather holds, a fly past by a Spitfire.”

Defford Airfield Heritage Group have displays and exhibits around Croome’s visitor centre which was once RAF Defford’s sick quarters and has been painstakingly restored by the National Trust.

Visitors can also explore the fascinating RAF Defford museum and see a replica control radar station showing how WAAFs (Womens Auxiliary Air Force) would have identified approaching enemy aircraft.

St Mary Magdalene Church, which sits proudly on the top of Church Hill in the grounds of Croome, was a setting for many weddings between RAF Defford staff during the war.

To celebrate this there will be a beautiful display of a typical 1940s bride and groom wedding attire and civilian clothes that people would have worn during the war.

Music will fill the air with 1940s crooner Kevin Mack who will entertain everyone with nostalgic tunes throughout the weekend and the talented D Day Darlings will add an authentic sprinkle of wartime musical magic on Sunday.

A popular feature on Saturday will be the RAF Defford veterans reunion which is a "great opportunity to meet up with old colleagues and swap stories of the times at Croome during the war" with a photocall at 11am to record the day.

Bertha, Croome’s original wartime ‘tea car’, will be making an appearance and visitors can also get plenty of refreshments from the 1940s-style canteen.

The RAF Defford weekend takes place on Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, with gates open from 10am until 5pm with free parking. Normal admission applies to visitors wishing to enter the parkland or Croome Court.

For more information visit nationaltrust.org.uk/croome