THE 10th Suffolk Kite Festival was met with perfect flying conditions for experts and amateurs alike to show off their spectacular skills this weekend.

By James Mortlock

THE 10th Suffolk Kite Festival was met with perfect flying conditions for experts and amateurs alike to show off their spectacular skills this weekend.

To mark the special occasion organisers of the two-day event at Rougham Airfield, near Bury St Edmunds, organised special events as well as annual favourites to thrill the crowds.

For the first time there were four arenas - for single kite displays, main displays, a competition arena and an area designated for the increasingly popular sport of power kiting.

And schoolchildren from around Suffolk were invited to take part in a massive kite making project and flying session on Saturday.

Martin Corrie, chairman of the Suffolk Kite Flyers Club and organiser of the two-day spectacular, said he was delighted with the weather and the growing interest in the festival, which is rapidly becoming a favourite on the Suffolk events calendar.

He said: “This is the 10th Suffolk Kite Festival and is staged jointly by the Suffolk Kite Flyers Club and Friends of Rougham Airfield. It is a festival for all kiters and a great family day out.”

He said the main arena was filled with non-stop action over the two days of the festival - making it the biggest kiting event in East Anglia.

Mr Corrie said a top attraction this year was some of the UK's top power kiters, who were invited for the first time to mark the 10th anniversary. Another popular feature was the International Fighter Kite Competition, which was first held at the Rougham event last year.