A Holt department store continued to support its charity of the year at a flying event for disabled young people and their families.

Bakers and Larners of Holt, on Market Place, supplied the group with free food after they were given a once in a lifetime opportunity to head to the south Norfolk skies.

The Bader Braves Young Aviators Day was held at Seething Airport, on Toad Lane, on August 7 and is a Douglas Bader Foundation programme.

It offers young people between the ages of six to 18 with a physical disability the chance to come along with up to three family members to a free taster flight session.

Over 50 people came to the event, including 17 physically disabled young people.

Married couple Kate, 43, and Keiron Miles, 44, were invited to apply through the charity Reach and came with their sons Henry, nine, Edward, 14, and William, 16.

The family, of Tower Field Road in Rendlesham, Suffolk, said the experience was 'brilliant'.

Mrs Miles said: 'It was an ideal thing for the boys to do something together. Edward has always wanted to fly a plane and this event allowed him to do that. Harry and William both took a flight with their dad too. I even went up in a helicopter and it was brilliant.'

Henry was born without a left hand and Edward and William suffer with the condition dyspraxia. Edward also has hypermobility joints and lax ligaments.

Mrs Miles added: 'We were all thrilled with what we had done and it's a shame there is not much about like this for disabled children.

'With all the cut backs it would just be lovely if there was more of these type of events. It wouldn't have to be often and not even on a big scale, just once every few months - it would be lovely.'

The Douglas Bader Foundation was formed in honour of Sir Douglas Bader in 1982 by family and friends, many of whom had flown side by side with him from RAF Coltishall during the second world war.

Mr Bader was honoured in 1976 with a knighthood for his contribution and work on behalf of the disabled. The foundation is continuing the work of Mr Bader.

The foundation increased last year's programme and has been able to offer nine young aviators days at airfields throughout the British Isles this year. They hope to increase this to 12 next year.

The event was hosted by Waveney Flying Club and was run entirely by volunteers, including a teams from St John's Ambulance Service and a fire crew who were on hand to help.

There was also a team displaying and offering rides in military vehicles and circus entertainment.

• For more information about The Douglas Bader Foundation contact Keith Delderfield on 07831 596015 or email douglasbaderfdn@btinternet.com or visit the website http://douglasbaderfoundation.com