A PLANE designed to drop nuclear bombs before becoming one of the icons of the skies and a testament to British engineering will make a farewell tour over Britain this weekend.

The world’s last flying Vulcan bomber, XH558, is undertaking two three-and-a-half orbital tours of the country, in the North today and down south tomorrow – both setting off after lunch.

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Planespotters are being advised that the Vulcan will be flying south from the Lake District around 2pm today, before turning right over Barnoldswick heading over the Ribble Valley north of Clitheroe before veering away at Samlesbury to head towards the Fylde coast.

Any updates are being posted on Twitter @XH558, which also has links to memorabilia such as an Avro Vulcan Sense Amplifier which is being auctioned off with the money going towards conservation costs.

A spokesman for the Met Office is predicting excellent conditions on Saturday to spot the plane, adding: “Any mist or fog will clear and after a chilly start.”

This version of the plane was first delivered to the RAF in 1960, with its larger wings capable of carrying the UK’s airborne deterrent during the Cold War.

Its service ended in 1993 as the RAF switched to low-altitude tactics.

It will be taking off and landing at Robin Hood Airport at Doncaster – but the public has been asked to stay away.

Supt Caroline Rollitt, of South Yorkshire Police, said: “Although I understand the passion of the supporters of the Vulcan, more and more spectators have turned up at events where the Vulcan has been.

“This has started to overwhelm local authorities and emergency services.

“The Vulcan trust have worked with us to satisfy the safety issue by providing a flight timetable to ensure that the public will get see the final flights from other vantage points.”