DOZENS of people took to their doorsteps, gardens and streets to watch Southampton's sky this afternoon as a special Spitfire flew over the city's hospital to pay tribute to the NHS.

The 'Thank U NHS' Spitfire passed over Southampton General Hospital at 3.32pm today.

Staff and patients gathered outside the hospital to watch the special visitor fly past, and residents in neighbouring roads took to their driveways and gardens to try and catch a glimpse as it flew by.

Daily Echo Camera Club members have been busy capturing the special Spitfire as it passed over the city.

Residents have the opportunity to nominate the name of a loved one to be hand written onto the family-owned Aircraft Restoration Company’s blue photo-reconnaissance plane in aid of NHS Charities Together.

The names will be nominated by the public as a way of recognising small acts of kindness throughout the coronavirus pandemic. From a family member to a kind neighbour, close friend or community hero, the public can now thank them with this special gesture.

In return for their donation, their nominated name will be one of those written on the Spitfire, which has an 80,000 name capacity.

To submit a name, the public will simply need to donate a minimum of £10 via the campaign’s JustGiving page, fundraising for the NHS Charities Together, whose funds support staff, patients and volunteers across the country.

They will then need to state their loved one’s name and reason for nomination in their donation comment. Overall the aircraft has space for 80,000 names.

For more details and to donate, visit justgiving.com/nhsspitfire.