THREE charities working with current and ex-armed forces personnel have received £30,210 collected through the sale of Bournemouth Air Festival 2015 brochures.

Cllr Lawrence Williams, cabinet member for tourism, leisure and the arts, was on hand at Hot Rocks Surf Restaurant and Cocktail Bar, based on Pier Approach, to present the cheques with the assistance of the Mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr Peter Adams.

The three causes set to benefit are the Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC), ABF The Soldiers' Charity and the RAF Benevolent Fund. Money was collected from the sale of the 2015 Vulcan souvenir Bournemouth Air Festival brochures, of which £2 from each copy is donated to the causes, patrons membership donations and through the purchase of official wristbands.

Cllr Lawrence Williams said: "It's great that we are able to raise money for such worthy causes and it is superb that we are able to give something back to the military who continue to support us.

"We have Visit England's best tourism event and I am proud to be part of the Bournemouth Air Festival family."

David Bailey, Bournemouth Air Festival patrons ambassador and manager of the Hotel Miramar, thanked the public for their continued support, which he said had enabled the well deserved causes to receive the 'staggering' amount of money.

Transport operator, Yellow Buses, also raised an additional £680 through wristband sales and the Daily Echo backed Carbon Stoppers initiative.

Commander Jamie Miller, Naval Regional Commander for Wales and Western England, said: "When we come to Bournemouth, it gives a chance for all three services to be seen and heard against the background of hundreds of thousands of people. You see all three armed forces in the air, on the sea and on the beach."

He added that the armed forces personnel who attend the Bournemouth Air Festival are made to feel 'appreciated, wanted and applauded.'

He went on to say that normally they are rarely seen in uniform in public, with the exception of Armed Forces Day and Remembrance Day parades, but Bournemouth is unique in that armed forces personnel go away feeling 'ennobled' and 'hold their heads higher'.