AIR cadets will join RAF veterans in this year's Battle of Britain Parade through bolton town centre tomorrow.

More than 100 members of Bolton Air Training Corps will march with the former Servicemen to pay tribute to the young men killed in the Battle of Britain.

It was on September 15, 1940, that the RAF and the German Luftwaffe began their deadly dogfights in the skies above Britain.

Thanks to the pilots' bravery, the RAF triumphed and gained air superiority. Hitler had planned to wipe out the British air force and clear the way for Operation Sealion -- the invasion of Britain.

The parade will leave Clive Street car park at around 10.15am, marching to Bolton Parish Church, where a remembrance service will be held.

The veterans and cadets will be joined by the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Cliff Morris, who will lay a wreath in tribute to Bolton's war dead at noon at the Victoria Square war memorial.

Cllr Morris will also inspect the parade and take the salute at the memorial alongside Wing Commander Kevan Greenhalgh, chairman of the East Lancs Wing of the Air Training Corps.

George Davies, chairman of 80 Bolton Squadron and treasurer of the Bolton branch of the RAF Association, said: "We hope to have some of the older veterans alongside the youngsters who are the air force of the future." The Air Training Corps were collecting in the town centre today for the RAF Benevolent Fund.

"Lots of people know of the Battle of Britain, when the country was saved against German invasion. I would like to think that the parade focuses on the brilliant youngsters of the town who will be taking part, as it is for their future."