A NORTH-EAST airshow will go ahead this weekend, with organisers taking every possible safety precautions, after regulators announced restrictions in the light of the Shoreham tragedy.

Up to 10,000 people are expected to attend the Skylive airshow, at Durham Tees Valley Airport, near Darlington, on Saturday (August 29).

The crash of a Hawker Hunter jet at Shoreham airshow on Saturday, which claimed at least 11 lives, will be uppermost in the minds of those attending and taking part in Skylive.

A minute's silence in memory of those who died will be held at the start of the event.

Video footage showed the jet failing to pull out of a loop-the-loop manoeuvre before crashing to the ground, exploding into a fireball as it hit cars on the busy A27.

Aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) today (Monday, August 24) announced restrictions on the use of vintage jets at airshows.

Flying displays over land by vintage jets will be restricted until further notice, meaning 'high-energy' aerobatics will not be permitted.

This will apply to two of the jets due to appear at Skylive – the Viggen and Draken – which will now be restricted to flypasts and ground displays.

Airport manager Shaun Woods said arrangements for Skylive had been prepared in line with CAA requirements.

He said: "Everyone connected with the airport and the airshow is obviously deeply saddened by the weekend’s tragic events at Shoreham and expresses their condolences to the victims’ families and friends.

"Incidents of this kind are thankfully very rare and safety is, of course, always our primary objective.

"The arrangements for the airshow at Durham Tees Valley next weekend have been prepared in full compliance with the specific requirements set out by the CAA for all live air displays and all our procedures have been developed with and approved by the CAA.

"In addition, all plans for the airshow have been prepared in consultation and agreement with the local authorities.

"All aircraft operators taking part in live displays at the show have been required to produce confirmation relating to pilot qualifications, aircraft airworthiness and insurance, as required by the CAA."

Announcing the restrictions, the CAA said it would carry out additional risk assessments on all forthcoming civil air displays to establish whether additional measures should be introduced.

The CAA added its thoughts were with those affected by the Shoreham tragedy.

A spokesman said: "The safety standards that must be met by all major civil air displays in the UK are among the very highest in the world and are regularly reviewed.

"All air display arrangements, including the pilots and aircraft, must meet rigorous safety requirements.

"Individual display pilots are only granted approval following a thorough test of their abilities."

An airport spokesman added: "We will, of course, be observing the new measures announced by the CAA, including restrictions on vintage jet aircraft.

"We will be working with the CAA on any additional risk assessments they wish to conduct."

Police investigating the Shoreham crash yesterday warned the death toll from the crash could rise to 20 once all the wreckage has been cleared.

Pilot Andrew Hill remained in a critical condition in hospital after being put into a medically-induced coma.

His family said they were "deeply saddened and devastated" by the loss of life and sent their prayers and condolences to the families of the victims.