WORKERS at Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems in Bristol were treated to a fly-past by a restored Vulcan bomber as it made its way from the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford.

The Avro Vulcan XH558 is the only airworthy Vulcan in existence and has close links with Bristol as it is powered by four Olympus jet engines.

A £7 million restoration project led to it returning to the skies last year, and it was meant to make an appearance at the tattoo in 2008, only for the show to be cancelled due to bad weather.

The appearance of the distinctive V-shaped plane over Filton and Patchway yesterday was also a surprise for residents who enjoyed their own display as the aircraft was flown twice over the site.

At the controls was Rolls-Royce chief test pilot Phill O'Dell, who took the Vulcan on to RAF Brize Norton.

A total of 136 Vulcans were built, the first going into service in 1953 and becoming part of the UK's nuclear deterrent.

They were taken out of service in the 1980s but the XH558 was seen in RAF displays until 1993, when it was bought by millionaire David Watson.

He passed the plane to the Sky Trust, which battled against rising costs and technical setbacks to return it to flight.

Its engines were made at Filton.