THE first flight from a Hampshire runway following a £1.5m upgrade has been hailed as an important boost for aviation in the area.

Today marks the first official flight from the main runway at the Solent Enterprise Zone at Daedalus after extensive improvements.

The project included resurfacing and relining the main strip, repairing taxiways, and installing ducting to allow for future installation of lighting.

Sean Woodward, leader of Fareham Borough Council, said: "The upgraded runway is an important step towards gaining the commercial licence that will allow a greater variety of planes to use the airfield and boost the already-healthy aviation community on site."

The area was first used as an airport in 1917 and the RN Station Daedalus was based on 750 acres.

It was an important site during the D-Day operations in the Second World War and Spitfire planes flew regularly from the runway.

Jon Butts of Lee Flying Association said: "The flying association applauds the renewal of the main runway, which secures the future of flying operations at Daedalus Aerodrome and EZ, enables aviation sector investment in new hangars, employment and recreational flying opportunities, and preserves for the long term the locally highly valued open aerodrome space as we enter a second century of aviation at Daedalus."