Q TWO or three years ago there was a TV drama about the RAF. In it a pilot boasted that he could fly under a bridge and, in the film, this was done at Winston, near Staindrop. I have visited the bridge and it must have taken great flying skill to do this. Where can this flying scene be obtained? - T Stephens, Bishop Auckland.

A THE series was called Piece of Cake and was based on Derek Robinson's novel of the same name. It featured the men of RAF Hornet Squadron during the early days of the Second World War through to the Battle of Britain.

It has been seen as something of a revisionist portrayal of the RAF pilots because, although it dramatised their daring feats, it also portrayed their faults. Most fans of wartime drama loved the series but one major criticism was that it used Spitfires, although Hurricanes featured in the original novel.

Early in the series, the pilots move to France to prepare for war. It is during this part of the film that they prove their worth by daring to fly under the low bridge. Although supposedly in France, Winston Bridge on the River Tees, between Barnard Castle and Darlington, was the bridge that featured in the stunt.

The plane in this memorable piece of television was a Spitfire first used in 1943 by 222 Squadron. A British pilot and spitfire enthusiast, Ray Hanna, bought the plane in 1983 for £260,000 and he performed the remarkable Winston Bridge stunt at the age of 60, reaching a speed of 250mph. Sadly, the series does not seem to be available on video except to American audiences. You could write to London Weekend Television Ltd, Television Centre, Upper Ground, London, SE1 9LT for further information.

Winston Bridge was built in 1763 and is a Grade II listed building. The bridge was the subject of stringent checks earlier this year as it was thought to be in need of structural repairs. Durham County Council had set aside £250,000 for its repair, but engineers discovered that the bridge was in first-class condition even though it had carried thousands of tonnes of heavy military vehicles to a nearby army base during the Second World War.

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Published 25/11/2002