As the RAF celebrates its 90th anniversary this month, the Oxford branch of the Royal Air Forces Association is spreading its wings and looking to the future.

The group, which was started in 1945, has moved to a new premises at the Royal British Legion Hall, in Lakefield Road, Littlemore, and is looking for new recruits to carry on 63 years of good work.

Secretary Cyril Gliddon said: "RAFA is the largest membership organisation in the UK and provides help and advice, assistance, comradeship and welfare for the whole RAF family.

"During the past 63 years, the Oxford branch has worked tirelessly to help thousands of former members and their families.

"But rather than being an organisation about the past, we see it as being as much about the future.

"The main body of our work involves former personnel, but the veterans of the future are those currently serving in places like Iraq and Afghanistan."

The group's main fundraising activity is the annual national Wings Appeal, which runs throughout the summer.

Members collect money - and give out Wings Appeal lapel stickers - at supermarkets across the county from May to August, while street collections take place around Oxford city centre in September.

A portion of the money collected goes to help former RAF personnel and their families locally - whether it be practical help or financial assistance.

The group's honorary welfare officer, Elaine Horne, said: "At the moment we have 30 active welfare cases in Oxfordshire.

"These involve everything from providing breaks at one of our six national holiday centres, to buying equipment like wheelchairs and mobility scooters, to helping people apply for grants or even just going in and checking how people are.

"Some people need a lot of help, others just a little support, but it can make all the difference. In some cases, our assistance can even enable people to stay in their own homes, rather than having to go into sheltered accommodation."

Oxford branch chairman Colin Turner believes there are many ex-service personnel living in the county who could become valuable members of Oxford's RAFA.

He said: "It's a well known fact that many ex-servicemen and women retire to places close to where they served and Oxfordshire has been home to countless airfields over the years.

"We would be interested in hearing from anyone with links to the RAF.

"As well as the chance to make a difference in people's lives, the RAFA is a place to meet and socialise with their former colleagues, and to enjoy a varied social programme, with speakers, trips and events."

The branch meets at 12.45pm on the first Tuesday of every month, at the Littlemore RBL Hall.

The group is open to anyone connected to the RAF and also to members of the public interested in helping the RAFA as honorary members.

For more information, call Mr Gliddon on 01865 820434.