The Canadian Lancaster will not be flying this weekend at the Bournemouth Air Festival.

It is thought that the aircraft, which was due to join the only other airworthy Lancaster bomber for the first time at Bournemouth on Saturday and Sunday, has a serious engine problem.

Its operators, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, has confirmed: “During a local flight from Durham Tees Valley Airport this morning, our Lancaster performed a precautionary engine shutdown.

“The aircraft landed safely without incident. It is now hangared and is undergoing maintenance. Regrettably we will not attend our weekend events and will advise on others.”

Jon Weaver, air festival director, said: “We share the disappointment of all the fans and air festival-goers and we all understand that she’s over 70 years old and these sorts of things can and do happen and we hope she’s airworthy soon.

“There’s still plenty to enjoy over the festival, with a full flying programme.”

The Canadian Lancaster is operated by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and is spending a month-and-a-half in the UK, taking part in a series of events with the BBMF.

The museum's Mk 10 Lancaster was built in July 1945 and was seriously damaged in 1952, but repaird with a wing centre section from a plane that had flown in combat over Germany.

It spent time as a maritime patrol aircraft and served with the Royal Canadian Air Force until late 1963.

It was returned to the air in 1988 and is dedicated to the memory of P/O Andrew Mynarski, referred to as the “Mynarski Memorial Lancaster”.

It is painted in the colours of his aircraft KB726 - VR-A, which flew with RCAF No. 419 (Moose) Squadron.

Mynarski won the Victoria Cross in 1944 for his gallantry when his Lancaster was shot down by a German fighter.

As the bomber fell, he attempted to free the tail gunner trapped in the rear turret of the blazing and out of control aircraft.

The tail gunner miraculously survived the crash and lived to tell the story, but sadly Andrew Mynarski died from his severe burns.