The world's largest military airshow has been cancelled for the first time in its history due to rain.

Just hours after the Queen left the opening of the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, its directors took the decision to call off its first day, blaming "unusually heavy rainfall".

Director Tim Prince said the decision was made jointly with the police after public car parks and the airfield became waterlogged.

Mr Prince said it was the first time the Air Tattoo had scrapped a day in its 38-year history.

He said: "It is with great regret that we had to take the decision to cancel the airshow on the Saturday but the safety of the public is paramount.

"When it became clear that we could not guarantee the safety of the many thousands of people who had bought tickets for Saturday, the decision to cancel was straightforward."

It is anticipated that the show will go ahead on Sunday but only for holders of tickets valid for Sunday. A decision will be announced by 4pm on Saturday. Refunds will be available for Saturday tickets.

The news came after the Queen presented new Colours to the RAF to mark the opening of the airshow and the 90th anniversary of the force.

In between heavy downpours she witnessed one of the largest flypasts ever seen in the UK.

Alongside the oldest living First World War Veteran, Henry Allingham, 112, she watched 90 planes pass by in an eight-minute spectacle.

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