THOUSANDS of people travelled from all corners of the region to enjoy the rip-roaring excitement of an airshow over the Bank Holiday.

On Sunday, visitors to the Yorkshire Airshow, at Elvington, near York, topped 15,000, a 20 per cent increase on last year.

And yesterday, thousands more turned out in force and were able to watch the famous aerial daredevils the Red Arrows perform their spectacular display.

It came after Saturday's disappointment when the world-famous display team was forced to take emergency action.

The Arrows had to abandon their display when four pilots who ignored air restrictions in the area, flew into the airspace.

They included a microlite, a Piper Cherokee, a helicopter and another light aircraft.

Fortunately, as it was a two-day event, the Red Arrows wowed the crowds with a three-and-a-half-hour display yesterday.

The show, held on the Elvington Airfield, this year celebrated Yorkshire's pivotal role in the history of air travel.

It marked the 150th anniversary of the first glider flight by Yorkshire pioneer Sir George Cayley with a glider display.

It also honoured 100 years of powered air travel with the centenary of the Wright Brother's first flight.

With replicas of both the Cayley Glider and the Wright Flyer in the nearby Yorkshire Air Museum, show organiser Ken Cothliff said this year's event was a huge celebration for air enthusiasts.

Both parents and children filled the site to be entertained by the Catalina Flying Boat, the Hawker Seahawk and the Sea Vixen.

They were also entertained by Spitfires, Hurricanes, Tornadoes and everyone's favourites, The Utterly Butterly Flying Circus.

Others milled around the site in the warm weather, tucked into sweets and hotdogs and browsed the many stalls and trade stands.