A FLYING spectacular that took off 23 years ago has raised £250,000 for charities since it begun.

Elaine Micklewright of the By-Gone Days event at Brooklands Farm in Gorley told the Forest Journal that £23,030 was raised at this year’s event – the highest figure for one event to date.

This year, three main charities - Salisbury Hospice, Salisbury Alzheimer’s Society and the Royal British Legion Women’s Section Benevolent Fund – will split the funds.

Mrs Micklewright said: “We started in 1991 and raised £802, which seemed absolutely wonderful during the short, two-hour event.

“By-Gone Days has grown like Topsy from a one-day show to the two-day show we run at present, with visitors coming from all over the world.

“What we raised this year was the highest we have ever raised. It is a huge amount.

“In 2011 we did raise £21,000, but this year tops that. We have now gone over the quarter of a million mark.

“There are an enormous amount of people without whom By-Gone couldn’t do it.”