FLYING fans will get their final chance to see the Vulcan bomber at this year's Bournemouth Air Festival.

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that the popular Cold War jet - the only airworthy example left - would be performing at this year's event in August.

Now, the Vulcan to the Sky Trust, which operates the plane, has confirmed that this year will be its final season in the air.

On the trust's website, a blog post said: "This is going to be a spectacular summer for Vulcan XH558, but also a very emotional one.

"It is with considerable sadness that we have to confirm that we are about to enter the final flying season.

"After she has landed from her last flight this autumn, there will no longer be a flying Vulcan.

"We are therefore going to work especially hard to make summer 2015 a memorable flying season for every Vulcan enthusiast across the country.

"We intend to use every flying hour available, taking her to more people than ever before, celebrating other iconic British engineering achievements and saluting the heroes of Britain’s legendary V-Force, in which she played a vital role during the knife-edge tension of the Cold War."

Jon Weaver, Bournemouth Air Festival director, said: “The Vulcan is an iconic aircraft which has had a big impact on the Air Festival. Obviously, we will be sad to see it not display again but are looking forward to its last appearance in Bournemouth this year.”