The Hawker Hunter jet that crashed at Shoreham air show had an "extraordinary" military service history after it was built in Kingston.

The 60-year-old jet fighter, which first flew in 1955, crashed on the A27 near the display ground on Saturday, killing at least 11 people.

WV-372 was one of 100 built at Hawker's Kingston factory in the Hunter's second production batch.

According to Fradu-hunters.co.uk, a website dedicated to a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm unit, the transonic jet was first flown by Hawker test pilot Hugh Merewether, then transferred to RAF Leuchars in Scotland for service.

In 1956 it suffered an engine fire and was returned to Kingston for repair. It was converted into a two-seat trainer and saw further service with the RAF until 1984, before being transferring to navy use.

The plane was bought privately in 1997, but had continued flying until 1993.

David Hassard, from the Kingston Aviation Heritage project, said: "It was owned by the military from 1955 to 1997. That's an extraordinary service. That's a long time for a jet fighter."

Before Saturday's tragic crash pilot Andy Hill had intended to fly the Hunter at an airshow in Duxford, Cambridgeshire, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.