DAZZLING and daring aerobatic displays lit up the skies above Bournemouth this evening for Night Air.

Thousands of spectators gathered, picking their vantage points carefully as, at 8.15pm, the rousing sound of Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries engulfed the seafront.

A series of spectacular pyrotechnic accompanied flights from O’Briens Flying Circus, the Fire Flies and the Twister Duo Aerobatics Team followed.

Following a washout Thursday, the first since 2011, the sky was clear and those watching were then treated to the view of the Red Devils, the Army’s parachute regiment freefall team, dropping from the sky in heroic style and greeted with rapturous applause.

The themes to Star Wars and Superman followed before the displays came to a scintillating climax as the pilots of Aerosparx, comprising the world-renowned Guy Westgate and Tim Dews, flew their Grob109 motorgliders in breathtakingly close proximity to each other.

The demonstration over, the crowds poured towards the piers where entertainment continues through the night.

The action starts all over again at 12.30pm tomorrow.