Spitfire flypast as hundreds turn out for Dame Vera Lynn's funeral

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      Video report by ITV News Art Editor Nina Nannar


      Hundreds of people have descended on the Sussex village of Ditchling for Dame Vera Lynn's funeral.

      The adored singer, who entertained troops with morale-boosting visits to the front line during the Second World War, died aged 103 on June 18.

      Crowds gathered in the picturesque village where she lived for decades to say goodbye to their “special local lady”.

      Representatives from the Royal British Legion stood in the road with flags as they waited to honour Dame Vera.

      A small police presence was on hand to ensure proceedings went smoothly.

      Two Second World War fighter planes soared over Ditchling to honour the singer.

      The aircraft made three passes over the quiet village before leaving to applause from the crowd.

      The cortege bearing Dame Vera's coffin - which is draped in a Union flag - will now make its way to the crematorium in Brighton.

      Avril Gaynor, who first met Dame Vera Lynn when she was 10, told PA that the Forces' Sweetheart changed her life.

      She recalled going round to Dame Vera's home in Ditchling for tea over many happy years.

      She said: "She was absolutely wonderful, I loved going to her house. "She could take us through the Burma campaign and I thought it was wonderful.

      "It was so lovely to talk with her about all the adventures she had."

      As the funeral cortege made its way out of the village where Dame Vera lived for 60 years, there were shouts of "hip hip hooray" from the crowd in her honour.

      It was followed by a spontaneous rendition of We'll Meet Again, one of the songs Dame Vera was well-known for.

      Speaking from New Zealand, singer Vicki Lee recalled how she met Dame Vera in 2015 after touring singing her songs.

      Ms Lee, 67, who lives in Palmerston North on the north island, originally took up singing the songs to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli.

      She said Dame Vera encouraged her to keep singing her songs.

      Ms Lee said: "She told me you don't need to ask permission to sing these songs because when these songs are sung we are acknowledging and remembering the lives of so many men and women that sacrificed so much so the songs must be kept going because it keeps those memories alive.

      A man hangs a painting of Dame Vera Lynn on a wall in the village of Ditchling, Sussex, ahead of her funeral. Credit: PA Images

      A large print of Dame Vera Lynn in red, white and blue was pinned up in the centre of Ditchling.

      Mourners were invited to sign the colourful tribute in silver pen and leave messages for the Forces Sweetheart.