THE brave airmen who defended the UK's shores at the Battle of Britain almost 80 years ago are to be remembered at a service in Prestwick next month.

The local branch of the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) will hold the remembrance service at the town's war memorial, in the gardens on the corner of Main Street and Station Road.

If the weather is poor, the service may be held at Monkton and Prestwick North Parish Church on nearby Monkton Road.

John Higgins from the local RAFA branch said: "Everyone is invited to join with us at Prestwick War Memorial to remember the few who defended these islands in the summer of 1940 and saved our nation from invasion."

Part of the service - which will be held at 3pm on Saturday, September 17 - will be remembering airmen from Scotland who fought in the battle.

One such was Spitfire pilot D.K. MacDonald, from, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, who was part of 603 Squadron.

He went missing aged 22 after combat with German ME109s over Dover and has no known war grave.

For further details about the service, email Johnhiggins1936@gmail.com.