CROWDS built up steadily for the first day of the Lowestoft Air Festival throughout the morning and by the time members of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment parachute display team opened the show the beach and promenade area were packed.

CROWDS built up steadily for the first day of the Lowestoft Air Festival throughout the morning and by the time members of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment parachute display team opened the show the beach and promenade area were packed.

The weather was perfect and hopes were high that attendance records could be broken.

The aircraft displays got under way with a stunning show from The Blades who are all former Red Arrow pilots.

This year's display has a European theme with aircraft from France and Holland taking part.

A Dornier Alphajet from the French Air Force and a Gen Dynam F16 from Royal Netherlands Air Force were among the stars of the show.

However, for many of the huge crowd the favourites were regular showstoppers the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

An extra attraction which was only confirmed today was an appearance of the Westland Apache helicopter from the Army Air Corps.

Air show directors were predicting that possible star of the show would be the Dutch Gen Dynam F16.

The Gloster Metero, the DH Venom and the Hunting Jet Provost were all making their debuts at the festival.

Show director Barry Hartley was delighted that the vast majority of visitors were displaying stickers to show they have paid �2 in the collection buckets.

“The publicity about the �2 contributions being vital to the future of the air show has been very helpful.

“I have spoken to our collectors and nearly everyone have their �2 donation ready. We are also grateful to managers at Pleasurewood Hills for giving a discount to people who contribute,” he said.

- For more on this year's show, buy tomorrow's paper.