LOW cloud and rain forced festival organisers to cancel most flights on Saturday but people still made the best of their day in Bournemouth.

Much of the Night Air programme should go ahead between 4-10pm – see link below.

The Red Arrows cancelled their 12.30pm display and organisers put the rest of the displays on hold in the hope conditions would improve.

There was only 200 - 500ft of clearance but most of the jets needed at least 1000ft to fly safely.

Only one solitary Lynx helicopter from the Black Cats was able to perform before event organisers called a definite halt at 3pm.

Squadron Leader Ben Murphy, of the Red Arrows’ Red One, speaking to the Echo at an event for the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation, said: "We’re disappointed that we haven’t been able to fly today but really hope the weather clears and we’ll be able to get up on Sunday.

"We were right on the limit yesterday and it makes flying a lot harder, but we are not even close to the cloud level we had yesterday."

The organisers are hopeful that the fireworks display planned for tonight will go ahead, but will update at 7pm.

The day started off grey with clouds at 400 feet and for a while got worse with light rain and strong wind.

By 11am the minehunter HMS Bangor, which was half a mile out to sea, was almost obscured by mist.

The Royal Marines put on a shortened version of their 12pm beach assault because the shores were too choppy to bring the landing craft ashore.

The weather improved slightly in the afternoon for a spell, but even then the clouds were still far too low.

Flt Lt Dave Davies, Red 4, said: "Yesterday had 700 foot which is our limit. Today we only had 200 foot.

"Anytime you have to cancel it is frustrating because it’s what we train to do."

Cpt Tobias Schutte, the pilot of the Dutch F-16, said: "On the one hand it’s sad but on the other hand, with this number of spectators, it would not be safe.

"The cloud cover is well below the minimum.

"When you are doing high speed manoeuvres like I do you need to look at the horizon the whole time."

The vast majority of spectators accepted the news with good grace.

Jane Gregory, 40, from Nottingham, has been to watch the Red Arrows in Bournemouth every year for 35 years and said it’s the first time they have been cancelled.

Lawrence Potter, 56, from Branksome, sat in a tent on the beach since 9am until 3pm.

He said: "You can’t fly in this weather. Safety has to be the priority."

Dave Smith from Fareham said: "It’s one of those things unfortunately – it's the English weather."

Jim Hampton had flown over from Belfast with his wife for the Air Festival. He said: "It’s put a dampener on the weekend but you just have to get on with it."