RELATIVES of people who served at an RAF base are being invited to a family event to celebrate those who served at the historic aerodrome.

Family members of people who served at RAF Bradwell Bay have been invited to the event.

The RAF Bradwell Preservation Group is researching and preserving the history of the Second World War aerodrome.

A family event is being held this weekend with the hopes of gathering together as many relatives as possible of people who have connections to the base or village in wartime.

Relatives are coming all the way from Canada, Devon and Scotland, as well as local people.

The Canadian Embassy is sending a military attaché as the first squadron was a Canadian Airforce squadron.

A woman coming from Canada is the daughter of a wireless operator from that squadron.

The main event is on Saturday, May 13, at the Green Man in Bradwell on Sea and a service is being held on Sunday, May 14, at the site off the crash of a 418 Squadron aircraft on January 2, 1943 where all the crewmen died.

The father of the Canadian visitor was among the crew that perished, as well as 17-year-old Maldon ATC Cadet Colin Albert Hull from Tiptree.