RETIRED airline pilot Martin Philpott got the ultimate big boys’ toy for his birthday party.

Guests arriving at the 70th bash at his home in Isle Brewers were greeted by a replica Battle of Britain Spitfire plane that had landed outside his back door.

Martin, who used to fly for BEA and BA, was organising the event when he joked to his wife, Tina, that the only thing missing was a Spitfire.

“It was a light-hearted quip, but Tina said, ‘Can’t we do it?’ “So I got in touch with a friend in Newquay and he arranged for it to be brought up on Saturday morning.

“Putting it outside our back door was a real work of art, but the look on everybody’s faces when they arrived was worth it.

“People were getting into the cockpit and really enjoyed it.”

The Spitfire was based on one flown during the Battle of Britain by Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum, who recounted his Second World War experiences in his book, First Light, and was hired out by Gateguards (UK) Ltd, based at Newquay Cornwall Airport.