THE 17th Clacton Air Show takes to the skies this week with as many as 100,000 people expected to descend on the resort to see one of the town's most ambitious programmes to date.

Roddy Ashworth

THE 17th Clacton Air Show takes to the skies this week with as many as 100,000 people expected to descend on the resort to see one of the town's most ambitious programmes to date.

And Tendring District Council - which runs the two-day event - has now signed up the Essex Air Ambulance to appear as the only helicopter on the free two-day extravaganza, which opens on Thursday.

Organisers have also announced that a Hunter aircraft will be taking part on the Friday.

The two new aircraft will join the world famous Red Arrows, a Tutor, Tucano, Hawk, Mustang, T28 Fennec, the Guinot Wingwalkers, the Blades and a Typhoon.

There will also be a poignant flypast from the ever-popular Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Programmes detailing the full two-day schedule are now available, priced £2, from Tourist Information Centres in Clacton, Harwich and Walton, council offices as well as the Clacton Factory Shopping Village.

Organisers are now hoping for fine weather to ensure that everything goes to plan for the keenly-anticipated event, which is supported by the East Anglian Daily Times and takes place along the town's seafront.

All aircraft but the Hunter are scheduled to make an appearance on both Thursday and Friday.

Other attractions include the Kiss Interactive Dome, a Mascot Race in Clacton Town Centre, plenty of food and drink stalls, trade stands and a host of land-based entertainment. EADT goodie-bags will also be available.

Les Double, Tendring District Council's portfolio holder for regeneration, said the event promised to be one of the best yet.

“We definitely have a very strong line-up of aircraft and a tremendous amount of hard work has gone in to coming up with this exciting programme - despite increased costs this year, due in no small part to increased fuel prices,” he said.

“We would obviously like to thank all the sponsors who have come on board to help get this air show off the ground once again and without their generous support none of this would be possible.”

Mr Double said that he hoped that local traders would benefit from the number of visitors who will be pouring into Clacton over the event.

“It is one of the biggest dates on the district's calendar and a very popular one,” he added.

“We pull in people from all over - many of whom come back year after year to enjoy the thrills and spills both in the air and on the ground.”