Volunteers restoring a historic aeroplane appealed this week for help from people in the Swindon area with aircraft trade expertise.

The project to rebuild and fly a Gloster Meteor T7, that first flew in September 1949, has run into trouble because of lack of specific engineering skills.

The historic aircraft is an example of the Meteor which was the first jet fighter to go into service with the Royal Air Force towards the end of the Second World War.

About 3,500 were produced, chiefly by the Gloster Aircraft Company at Hucclecote, near Gloucester. The group of dedicated personnel (largely ex RAF) lack engineers with the appropriate skills to work on the airframe and replace the vast number of rivets required by an aircraft of this type and vintage.

John Walduck, spokesman for the group, said: "The search is on to find willing volunteers with military rigging or airframe trade skills and time to devote to this worthwhile project."

Anyone interested can view more information on www.meteorflight.com. To find our more or to offer help, contact John Walduck, call 01793 853850 or Max Tapper on 01249 812557.