A LANCASTER veteran was left in high spirits after seeing the last two remaining airworthy Lancaster Bombers in the world side by side.

Navigator Burt Mason and his wife Vera, from Poole, were left bitterly disappointed after the Canadian Lancaster was grounded due to engine problems ahead of its scheduled display alongside the RAF Lancaster at this year's Bournemouth Air Festival.

Upon hearing of the couple's disappointment at missing out on the unique spectacle, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) invited the couple to see the two historic planes at their HQ, RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

Burt and Vera travelled to the base with their daughter Carol to see the Canadian Lancaster, which coincidentally has the codename VeRA, leave the Coningsby runway for the last time as she began the return leg of her epic transatlantic adventure.

The family were delighted to hear her Canadian crew were staying at the same hotel as them in Woodhall Spa, which is the former HQ of the 617 ‘Dambusters’ Squadron.

Vera said: “The Canadians were a great bunch and lots of fun and being able to socialise with them was just the icing on the cake.”

Before VeRA set off for her return journey following the completion of her UK tour, the couple saw the two bombers side by side preparing for take-off and witnessed the camaraderie between the two crews.

And during their time at the RAF base, Burt found himself in front of a camera crew being interviewed for a Canadian TV documentary.

The Masons said the experience was something they would cherish.

Burt said: “We are enormously grateful to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight for giving us this extraordinary opportunity.”