A NEW visitor centre to celebrate the heroism of the men who fought over the skies of Kent in the Battle of Britain has been given the go-ahead by Dover District Council.

The Wing will serve as a "living history resource" that will use a combination of films, walk-through displays and other technology to help to recreate the events of 1940.

The new building has been designed in the shape of the Spitfire wing and will be built at the National Memorial to The Few at Capel once the required £2.5 million in funding has been found.

A bid has already been submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund, but additional fundraising activities will also take place.

Full planning permission was granted by Dover District Council last week.

Trust chairman Richard Hunting said: "We are delighted to have won planning permission for this exciting new development but there is a long way to go.

"The decision to approve the scheme marks the successful conclusion to many months of hard work by Folkestone architectural practice Godden Allen Lawn, council planners and the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, which cares for the existing memorial.

"The new building has been designed in the shape of the iconic Spitfire's signature dihedral wing shape, and will have room for educational activities alongside a high-tech audio-visual experience.

"The site is already home to the Christopher Foxley-Norris memorial wall, a replica Spitfire and Hurricane, and the central statue of a seated airman looking out over the Channel.

"We hope people will see the value of what we are trying to achieve here in Capel and will contribute generously to this great cause."

It is hoped the Wing will be open by 2015, the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Anyone interested in donating money should visit www.battle ofbritainmemorial.org or call 01233 636878.