Airshow displays unusual proposal

James Webb said the marriage proposal was a lovely surprise

An East Sussex airshow had an unusual flypast when a visitor decided to surprise her boyfriend.

As crowds waited for Saturday afternoon's flying displays on the third day of Eastbourne Airbourne, a plane appeared towing a special banner.

It revealed a marriage proposal from Tracey Tillet to her boyfriend of eight years, James Webb - who said yes.

The couple from Caterham, in Surrey, said afterwards that they were both "absolutely ecstatic".

The aircraft towing the banner: "James will u marry me? Tracey" flew across Eastbourne seafront.

More than 800,000 were expected to flock to the 14th Eastbourne Airbourne, billed as the biggest free airshow in the UK, over the four day event, which ended on Sunday.

Star of the show was the Mirage 2000, which was being displayed in the seaside resort for the first time by the French Air Force.