It was an awe-inspiring occasion - the sight and sound of the last remaining British Lancaster bomber gliding between the two dam towers, flying at 100ft above the water that the original crews once trained over.

Past and present RAF joined with other World War Two veterans, aviation enthusiasts, and parents with young children for the event which touched young and old alike.

Les Monroe, the last surviving pilot from the Dambusters mission in May 1943, arrived from New Zealand for the occasion, while Richard Todd, who played wing commander Guy Gibson in the famous film, was also there.

The VIPs gathered on the dam wall for the flypast, while local and national media scribbled and snapped away on the banks of the water which were thronged with spectators.

Entrance to this year's event was by ticket only, with 400 provided via a ballot to prevent a repeat of the chaos at the 50th anniversary celebrations, when thousands of people flocked to the area.

A steady stream of visitors arrived from 7am onwards, ready for the memorial service at 10am. Prayers were said and wreaths laid for the 53 men who died in operation, when Germany's Mohne and Eder dams were breached, wreaking havoc and providing a great morale boost for the British.

As the Lancaster was spotted in the distance ducking in and out of the trees, the atmosphere on the banks intensified as people pointed and exclaimed.

Hundreds of cameras were poised for the marvellous moment when it gracefully cut through the air between the dam towers, accompanied by the ominous sound of its engine which is like no other aircraft.

The Lancaster swooped around the valley before making its way back through, looking like it could skim the heads of the people stood on surrounding hills as it moved off into the distance.

The rumbling of engines in the trees behind marked the arrival of two Tornadoes, who accompanied the Lancaster on its third flight past and then returned in tandem leaving a trail of smoke across the sky.

The whizzing propellers of the Spitfires were the next on the scene, criss-crossing and swooping around the valley creating an electric buzz among the crowd.

The Dakota that finished proceedings seemed to almost amble through the air, compared to the speed and sound of the preceding Tornadoes and Spitfires.

It was a spectacular sight - with an extremely important message.

Al Pinner, squadron leader of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight who carried out the flypast, said the display was intended to be a "living and breathing tribute" to those who took part in the Dambusters raids.

He said: "We have one of only two surviving Lancasters in the world so it is very important to use them to commemorate the immense achievement that happened 65 years ago.

"These aircraft - the sight and sound of them - still have the power today to inspire kids to join the military and to fly.

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