Olympic fly-past for Red Arrows

In 2005 the Red Arrows flew over Trafalgar Square

The Lincolnshire-based Red Arrows will fly at the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, it has been confirmed.

There had been fears the world famous aerobatics team would not appear prompting thousands to sign a petition calling for the demonstration.

But speaking in the Commons on Monday, Olympics minister Tessa Jowell insisted they would stage a fly-past.

She provoked Tory anger by claiming the Conservatives tried to start a campaign saying there would be no fly-past.

Ms Jowell said: "I can categorically confirm that there is absolutely no truth whatsoever to this story.

"And I think it was highly regrettable that in the face of the scale of the denials from London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games who I understand took the trouble to e-mail every MP that the party operation of the Opposition tried to continue to get a campaign going."

Red Arrows spokeswoman Rachel Huxford said: "We were never banned and we're delighted that people feel so strongly about the Red Arrows, that we're such a part of public life.

"I have to say at the moment though it all pales into insignificance because we're about to go on tour on Saturday for two months. We're off to the far Middle East and literally that is filling our heads at the moment!"

The RAF Scampton-based Red Arrows made an appearance over Trafalgar Square when the news was first announced that London had won the Olympic bid back in July 2005.