A COLD War bomber passed over the Farnham area on Sunday during its farewell tour of the south of England before its retirement.

The only remaining airworthy Avro Vulcan, XH558, was seen soaring over the countryside east and north of the town either side of stops at Farnborough Airport.

Having set off from Doncaster earlier in the day, the Vulcan took in stops at Dunsfold Park and Farnborough at around 2.20pm before continuing onto the South West, Wales and the Midlands.

The jet-powered delta wing strategic bomber was operated by the RAF from 1956 until 1984.

It formed the backbone of the UK’s airborne nuclear deterrent during the Cold War and undertook bombing missions during the Falklands War.

One of the 134 Vulcans employed by the RAF, XH558 nicknamed ‘The Spirit of Great Britain’, was restored to flight in 2007 by the Vulcan To The Sky Trust for use in display flights and air shows including Wings and Wheels at Dunsfold Park and Farnborough Airshow.

However, in May this year it was confirmed that 2015 would be XH558’s last flying season due to sponsors of its £2 million a year running costs withdrawing their support.

The bomber’s tour of the south of England on Sunday followed a similar tour of the north on Saturday, and represents the last large-scale tour for the aircraft.