EVERY cloud, they say, has a silver lining. The flying displays may have been a virtual washout at the weekend, but the Bournemouth Air Festival is still being hailed as a great success for the town.

The event has been confirmed for the next three years and the dates for 2011 will be August 18-21.

Though rain and cloud played havoc with the programme on Saturday and Sunday, huge crowds still flocked to the seafront.

Council bosses praised the public for their patience and described the atmosphere as “brilliant.”

The only decent break in the weather yesterday came around 4pm with one of the Red Bull Matadors doing a full display, followed by the Pitts Duo and CAP232.

Then two of the three ‘big beasts’ – the Vulcan and Typhoon – were due to make an appearance, but after pilot and owner of Hunter jet Miss Demeanour, Jonathan Whaley, went up he advised the others not to bother – signalling the end of the displays.

Red Arrows fans were also disappointed, as the team reluctantly made the decision to cancel.

Council leader Peter Charon said: “The next three years are already booked, they’re in the calendar.

“I remember in May 2007 when this was just the germ of idea and now look at it.

“This is the biggest and best event of its kind in the country. Despite the disappointing weather we’ve had hundreds of thousands of visitors and the festival generates over £30m for the local economy.”

Festival director, Jon Weaver, said: “No-one can deny the weather has had a significant influence on this year’s festival, but it has been tremendously well supported and business in the town has been booming.

“In the air, the Dutch F16 jet, Miss Demeanour, the Red Devils and Tigers Parachute teams have given visitors superb new displays.”

He added: “The reputation of the festival has been firmly established in 2008 and 2009, so we just have to take the great British weather on the chin this time round.”

The Night Air programme was a huge success and will be repeated next year.

Meanwhile hotels, bars and restaurants have been packed out and doing brisk business.

Lauren Finney, duty manager at Boscombe’s Urban Reef, said: “We’ve had a busy few days, despite the poor weather. In fact, the cancellation of the flying displays on Saturday did us a favour because there were loads of people around who were suddenly looking for something to do. We would definitely not have been so busy were it not for the air festival.”

Mr Weaver said: “Get the dates for next year in your diary – and pray for good weather.”