New photographs of the world's largest aircraft have been released ahead of its official unveiling.

They show the Airlander 10 - part plane, part airship and part helicopter - in all its 302ft (92m) long glory in a First World War aircraft hangar in Bedfordshire.

It is around 50ft (15m) longer than the biggest passenger jets.

British firm Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) has designed the huge aircraft to stay airborne for up to three weeks.

It can be used for a variety of functions including surveillance, communications, delivering aid and even passenger travel.

The Airlander 10 uses helium to become airborne and can travel at a speed of 92mph (148km/h).

It was first developed for the US government as a long-endurance surveillance aircraft but it fell foul of defence cutbacks.

HAV will unveil the aircraft fully assembled for the first time in the hangar at Cardington, Bedfordshire, on Monday.

It is 143ft (44m) wide and 85ft (26m) high.

It is hoped that the Airlander 50 will eventually be developed, which would be able to transport 50 tonnes of freight.

Chris Daniels, HAV's head of partnerships, told the Press Association: "This is a fantastic story of British innovation, getting a unique aircraft fully assembled to do something both useful and commercially viable.

"We are ready to show the world the potential it can achieve in monitoring, search and rescue, cargo, aid distribution and even passenger roles."