A GROUP of children in Christchurch dressed as Red Arrow pilots to help raise £1,250 at a fun day in aid of the Jon Egging Trust.

Staff from Cobham Aviation Services, based at Bournemouth Airport, brought their kids along to the event held by the company with 10 of them donning red jump suits to pose for pictures at the fun day. The event also featured fairground rides, live music, food, ice cream stalls, classic cars and some of Cobham's aircraft fleet on display.

It aimed to fundraise for the charity set up in memory of the Red Arrow pilot who died at the end of a display at Bournemouth Air Festival on August 20, 2011.

As well as holding the day, Cobham Aviation Services is also one of the partners of the charity's Blue Skies youth engagement programme. The initiative aims to inspire, challenge and equip young people to overcome obstacles and be the best they can be.

Emma Egging, CEO of the Jon Egging Trust, said: "This year, Cobham Aviation Services has given our young people an insight into aviation engineering, and how vital team work is within this industry.

"The support we receive from our partners is invaluable as they provide inspiring personnel and facilities for our Blue Skies students."

The Blue Skies programme is structured into three levels and has been developed as a progressive route for young people. It works in a partnership approach with schools in deprived or rurally isolated areas with key organisations and companies connected to aviation, engineering and science.

Six of the programmes have been held in Dorset since 2013 operating over three levels. In addition, more than 1,000 students in the county go through the Inspirational Outreach programme every year.

For more information, go to Joneggingtrust.org.uk