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Sunderland Airshow: Thousands flock to 30th anniversary

PA Red Arrows performing at the Sunderland International Airshow with coloured smoke in the skyPA
The Red Arrows were the first to take to the skies on Friday

Thousands of people have gathered for the second day of the 30th annual Sunderland Airshow, with organisers buoyed by improved weather.

The Red Arrows got the ever-popular event under way on Friday with a colourful flypast above the city's newly built Northern Spire Bridge.

However, heavy rain and lightning storms meant the opening night's programme was curtailed.

Hundreds of thousands of people will attend across three days.

An RAF Typhoon team took to the air above Seaburn after the Red Arrows on Friday before a fireworks display brought proceedings to a halt.

Early rain on Saturday gave way to blue skies with an RAF Chinook on show along with the Tigers Army Parachute Display Team.

Other planes featured across the weekend include an OV-10 Bronco, an MiG-15 and Spitfires.

A Battle of Britain memorial flight featuring a Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane was called off, though, and will not be staged this weekend.

North News The RAF Falcons Parachute Display TeamNorth News
The RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team are based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire
North News Team Raven planesNorth News
The Team Raven formation aerobatic display group has been performing since May 2014
North News Thousands of people line the streets in Sunderland's Seaburn areaNorth News
Early rain did not deter the crowds with the seafront area welcoming thousands of enthusiasts
North News RAF Typhoon in the airNorth News
An RAF Typhoon was among the planes which made it into the sky
PA Red Arrows performing at the Sunderland International Airshow with coloured smoke in the skyPA
The Red Arrows are a regular attraction at the airshow and were set to perform again on Saturday

The event runs until 18:00 BST on Sunday.