SOME of the world's most famous aircraft are set to soar through the skies above the east coast today as the second day of the 14th Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival gets under way.

SOME of the world's most famous aircraft are set to soar through the skies above the east coast today as the second day of the 14th Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival gets under way.

The popular two-day event, which is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to the town, started yesterday with a parachute display over the beach before dozens of modern and classic aircraft provide more than four hours of entertainment.

Today's packed line-up includes a search and rescue demonstration by the Lowestoft lifeboat and the RAF Sea King helicopter, daring displays from the Team Breitling wing walkers, aerobatic excitement from The Blades and an appearance from the world's only flying Avro Vulcan bomber.

The ever-popular Red Arrows display team are flying on both days of the festival, closing the show today at about 4.40pm after providing a roaring start to yesterday's programme.

Other festival favourites returning to the skies above Lowestoft for the two-day event include the Shorts Tucano, the Hawker Hunter and the BAe Hawk.

The Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight returns to the festival as part of the 70th anniversary commemoration year, featuring a Dakota this year for the first time.

The Red Bull Matadors, which take part in the air race series around the world, are also making their festival debut with pilots Paul Bonhomme and Steve Jones performing daring stunts on both days including cross-overs at a combined speed of 400 mph.

The festival, which has been organised for the past six years by the Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival charitable trust, relies on donations from visitors to continue year after year and trust managing director Paul Bayfield has urged people to donate just �2 each to help pay for the spectacular.

He said that last year's seafront bucket donations raised nearly �119,000, up from just over �81,000 in 2008.

“The annual call for a donation towards the huge cost of running the event seems to have been understood by the majority of our visitors last year and it is because of them that we can do it all over again this year.

“I am sure we will get the support from everyone again this year as I cannot think of any better value anywhere than just a minimum �2 donation for a complete day out,” he said.

For more information, visit www.lowestoftairfestival.co.uk

Seafront car parks will be closed and nearby roads will be coned off, but a park and ride scheme will be in place for visitors travelling to Lowestoft by car.

The park and ride costs �10 per car and car parks are just off the A12 at Dip Farm, Corton, to the north of Lowestoft and at Africa Alive in Kessingland off the A12 to the south.

Both sites will be open from 8am each day, with the first buses leaving at 8.30am. The last buses back from the seafront will be at 7.30pm.

Limited parking and walking sites are also available at Pakefield Cliffs car park (�7 a car) and at the Asda car park on Horn Hill (�10 a car which includes a donation to the festival).

Disabled parking is available at Belvedere Road car park.

Extra trains are being provided between Norwich and Lowestoft, leaving Norwich at 9.30am, 9.45am, 10.30am, 11.10am and 11.55am. Extra trains back from Lowestoft to Norwich leave at 5.20pm, 6pm and 7.57pm.

For more information on train services, visit www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com or call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50.