Weather hits Arrows display

Visitor numbers were well down on last year's event

Poor weather has severely affected this year's Cornish Air Show at RNAS Culdrose.

Low cloud, mist and rain have resulted in main events, including a display by the Red Arrows, being pulled.

Both Merlin and Sea King helicopters took to the air, but officials at the Helston base say the turnstile figures will be well below the usual figure of 30,000 people.

The event was tinged with sadness at the deaths of two members of the Royal Navy Historic Flight in a plane crash last weekend.

The pilot, Lieutenant Commander Bill Murton, and his navigator Neil Rix were in a vintage Fairy Firefly which was due to take part in the Air Day.

Loss 'grieved'

There had been calls for the event to be cancelled this year as a mark of respect to seven men from Culdrose killed in a helicopter crash during the war in Iraq.

But in a statement, the Air Station said it was more important than ever before that the air day should go ahead.

The air base said: "Of course we grieve the loss of our comrades in arms and we will be taking part in a public service of thanksgiving and remembrance in their honour at Truro Cathedral later this month.

"We do not see the cancellation of the Air Day as a positive step."