THE Red Arrows will be soaring high this week for one of the county’s biggest events. In a treat for aircraft fans, the troupe will be performing above the seafront on both days of Clacton Air Show, which takes place tomorrow and Friday.

The air show is the town’s biggest free attraction of the summer, with an impressive line-up of action in the skies and on the ground.

Over two days, a host of aircraft will take to the skies including a classic plane flypast and hair-raising acrobatic displays at 500ft above the ground.

A crowd of 120,000 is expected to enjoy the programme at Clacton’s West Greensward.

The world’s only formation wingwalkers, the Guinot Team, will be joined this year by the Blade display team.

Guinot, with local pilot Martyn Carrington, dazzle spectators with their daredevil antics, during which the planes will weave and loop above the town with women on their wings.

The sky-high acrobats will be braving winds of up to 150mph to perform handstands to the crowds below.

The Blades, who have performed to A-list celebrities, were formed by three former Red Arrow pilots and a world championship-level acrobatics instructor. They will be flying specially-designed Extra 300LP craft capable of 220 knots and tight turning circles.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight offers the chance to see an old Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfire.

The tradition of commemorative flypasts began the year after the Second World War, as planes led a victory flight over London.

Many classic planes have been preserved especially for this purpose, but from the 7,377 Lancasters originally built, only two are flyable today, one of which will be in Clacton this year.

The programme continues with the Hawk T1, RAF Sea King helicopter, King Air and Mustang. The Hunter, Helimed Air Ambulance and Swift gliders, complete the programme.

New to the show this year, the Swift gliders took top honours in a number of national aerobatic competitions last year. The team work with a Pawnee towplane, which is perfect for its trademark roll-on-tow manoeuvres.

On the ground, West Greensward will be closed to traffic and be full of attractions, including a leisure arena where there will be music and dancing displays. This will feature a wide range of performances by local and foreign performers who will be in the town as part of a twinning visit.

Staff from Clacton Leisure Centre will be giving demonstrations and advice on how to keep fit and healthy.

Marine Parade West will be closed during the event.

Car parking will be signposted from outside the town to the West Road car park.

Flying programmes are available on the day or from the tourist information centres, priced £2.