VINTAGE aircraft at Lasham are being re-homed because a preservation society is no longer able to pay insurance costs.

A collection of old planes and plane parts has been on display on a patch of Lasham Airfield alongside Avenue Road, near Alton, since the late 1970s.

They were under the care of volunteers of the Second World War Aircraft Preservation Society (SWWAPS).

SWWAPS paid a peppercorn rent to lease the land from Lasham Gliding Society and preserved the planes with the help of donations.

But Richard Moyse, airfield manager, said the planes are now being moved because the society can no longer afford to pay public liability insurance.

He explained that the late Bob Cole, from Crowthorne, Berkshire, was the main force behind the group, and after he died two years ago, the planes began to deteriorate.

Mr Moyse, who has been a member of the gliding society for more than 30 years and manager for about a year, said: “It’s a great shame. Mr Cole was the leading light in the society. The few people left to run it have struggled to keep it going and the last straw was when they couldn’t afford to pay their public liability insurance.

“It got to a point where we had to re-home the aircraft and they are going to various places and museums across the country where they will perhaps be looked after more carefully.

“They haven’t been looking very good and bits have been blowing off in the wind. Some of the aircraft are quite rare and desirable to other museums, so it’s probably for the best.”

He said the various aircraft on display are mainly early post-war jets, but also include a rare De Havilland Drover, one of only two ever built for the Australian flying doctor service.

Other aircraft on display are a Percival Prentice 1, a Percival Sea Prince and three Gloster Meteors.

A contractor has been hired to dismantle and remove the planes.