DORSET people are being urged to show their support for hundreds of runners taking part in a 24-hour, 65 mile run to commemorate those who took part in the first combat operation of D-Day.

The runners will set off from Tarrant Rushton airfield at 2pm on June 4 following the route taken by glider pilots who flew from the airfield in 1944 to capture Pegasus and Horsa bridges in Normandy, northern France.

Danny Greeno, the chairman of military charity Project 65, said the Run to Pegasus event would celebrate Dorset’s D-Day connection.

“Tarrant Rushton airfield played a key role in D-Day operations and this is a chance for local people to celebrate their history,” he said.

“We want people to line the route and to cheer on the lads and lasses taking part. Our oldest runner is 74 years old.”

A short service of remembrance, led by the Rev Canon John Holbrook, rector of Wimborne Minster, will be held at the airfield’s memorial stone at 1pm.

Runners will set off at 2pm in six separate groups in a tribute to the six glider formations that left the airfield 65 years earlier.

Each group will be started by a different dignitary, including the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Valerie Pitt-Rivers, the High Sheriff of Dorset, Victoria McDonaugh, and veteran “Titch” Rainer, who took part in the “coup de main” operation.

Their route will take them through Holt, Witchampton, Hinton Martell, Ashley Heath, Three Legged Cross, Crow and Burley on their way to the ferry terminal at Portsmouth.

Historic military aircraft, including two Spitfires, a Hurricane and a Dakota will perform a fly-past over the runners just after 2pm.

West Moors man Captain (retired) Jonathan Ross will be among the runners, while Dave Maidment, from Charlton Marshall, will show the original tractor used to tow the gliders into position on D-Day.