THE flying programme for the launch night of the 26th Sunderland International Airshow had had to be cancelled.

Displays by teams including the Red Arrows, The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, was to have formed part of the event this evening.

But low cloud at the coast, where the event is staged meant that meant that it was unsafe to proceed.

The party is still due to go ahead with music performances and a firework display rounding off the night.

The event is organised by Sunderland City Council and events company Sunderland Live.

Harry Trueman, deputy leader of the council, said: “The cloud is at about 100ft and it is not safe to fly unless it is 1,000ft.

“We will carry on with an extended programme on the ground. We hope the weather is all right for tomorrow.”

The airshow, the biggest free event of its kind in Europe, attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators from across the region and beyond to the Seaburn and Roker areas of Sunderland.

The airshow will feature a full programmes of flying displays tomorrow and on Sunday.

Six years ago no flying took place at all on both days of the event as a heavy sea fret lay over the coast made it impossible to fly safely even though the weather was bright and warm just a few yards from the seafront.

For more information about the airshow visit www.sunderlandlive.co.uk , the airshow Facebook page at www.fb.com/SunderlandInternationalAirshow and Twitter #SunAirshow