LET'S go fly a kite, up to the highest height.

LET'S go fly a kite, up to the highest height.

That is exactly what hundreds of visitors did over the weekend at the 12th Suffolk International Kite Festival at Rougham Airfield near Bury St Edmunds.

Kites of all different shapes, sizes and types were on show including ones which were more than 100ft long. There were also lots of world class displays by the experts, including UK freestyle power kiters who defied gravity with their crazy tricks.

Plenty of competitions took place throughout the weekend for both children and the trick/freestyle expert flyers who competed in a round of the UK National Sports Team And Competitive Kiting Championship.

For those wanting to get fully involved there were workshops for youngsters to make their own kites, a chance to fly a power kite and there was a large public flying area where people could practice with their own kites.

For the first time this year there was also a mobile skate park so many attendees brought along their BMX bikes or landboards.

The event, which was held on Saturday and Sunday, attracted scores of families who came to enjoy the day out.

Several different kites were on sale for those who were inspired by the festival and there were plenty of refreshments available too.

Martin Corrie, festival chairman and vice chairman of Suffolk Kite Club, said the event has been successful and estimated more people had attended than last year although exact figures are yet to be confirmed.

"We had a better year than last year when it was very, very cold but we still had hoped for more people - I think the weather may have put them off from coming," he said.

"We are considered to be one of the top five or six festivals in the country and we are certainly the biggest in the East of England."

Money raised from the event will be shared between the East Anglian Air Amublance and the new west Suffolk branch of the Autistic Society which was launched at the festival yesterday.