THE Red Arrows made a spectacular appearance across the region on Saturday as part of National Armed Forces Day celebrations.

The distinctive Hawk fast-jets arrived on schedule over the British Army’s Catterick Garrison, RAF Leeming and the coastal town of Scarborough, where the event was due to take place before it was cancelled due to coronavirus.

The jets took off from their base at RAF Scampton at 9.30am. They first flew over Scarborough before going to to Catterick Garrison.

There they flew over the Infantry Training Centre, including at Helles Barracks, where the Gurkha's are based. Recruits formed up on parade ground, keeping social distancing and spelling out the letters NAFD (National Armed Forces Day).

They then flew over the other recruits at Vimy Barracks. On a second flyby they flew over the married quarters and the parade ground outside the headquarters of Catterick Garrison and 4th Infantry Brigade.

An Army spokesperson said: "It is a fantastic opportunity for the guys to be recognised for their service."

They rounded off their visit to the region with a fly-by over RAF Leeming.

In the year that marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day, the nation is celebrated the Army’s efforts keeping the country afloat amid the pandemic, from repatriating British citizens from abroad, designing and distributing PPE, and constructing hospitals.

Military bands commemorated the day via performances streamed on the Armed Forces’ Facebook and Twitter pages, where behind-the-scenes views of the Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth and the Red Arrows will also be shown.