A scale model of a symbol of Britain’s fighting spirit has returned to Shropshire after wowing TV audiences nationwide.

The RAF museum at Cosford near Telford is again playing host to an Airfix scale model Spitfire which featured in James May’s Toy Stories.

Top Gear star James May and his team of engineers, helped by children from Thomas Telford School, visited the museum last year to build the flying legend.

The project took three days to complete and the completed model went on display in Hangar 1 last October. The lifesize kit is now again on display at the hangar.

The giant model made its return after undergoing maintenance and strengthening work by specialists Gateguards in Cornwall.

Museum general manager Alex Medhurst said: “The Toy Stories programme caught the imagination of viewers and we have constantly been asked when it would be back on display by our visitors.

“The work completed on the model has ensured that it is stronger and will now be displayed for the long-term.”

Building the model last year involved the positioning of wings, the propeller and painting the correct colour scheme — just like generations of children have done with scale model Airfix kits.

Mr Medhurst said the museum had been pleased to host the Toy Stories show and the edition was significant as Cosford was home to the world’s oldest Spitfire, which is on display in the Warplanes hangar .

James May’s Toy Stories was a series of six episodes which used some of Britain’s best loved toys to capture the imagination of children today.