HOPES were high that this year's Lowestoft Seafront Airshow could set new attendance records.

HOPES were high that this year's Lowestoft Seafront Airshow could set new attendance records.

At 2.30pm today it was estimated that 200,000 people were enjoying a packed flying display in glorious sunny conditions.

With more good weather forecast for tomorrow it is hoped that a similar number of people will be visiting the north Suffolk seaside town.

Asa Morrison, of Waveney District Council, said: “It's a good figure. We did three counts and this was the most recent.

“After the first count we felt the beach had got busier. This is an intelligent assessment and gives us a bench mark.”

Mr Morrison said it was particularly crowded between Lowestoft's two piers.

“There is a lot of people in Lowestoft today and it appears to be busier between the Claremont and South Piers but not so busy south of the Victoria Hotel,” he said.

A parachutist from the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment lands on Lowestoft beach. Photo: Angela Sharpe.

The large fun fair on Royal Green was also proving popular with families.

The display got off to a splendid start with a freefall parachute display by members of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment.

Other popular early displays including an aerobatic showpiece with The Blades, four Extra 300 LP aircraft flown by former Red Arrows pilots, and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight consisting of a Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane.