A FOUR-day regatta, which claims to be the oldest on the North Yorkshire coast, is set to feature a display by the Red Arrows.

The elite RAF display team will follow performances at Sunderland International Airshow on July 22 and 23 with one at Whitby Regatta on Sunday, August 21.

It is understood about 15,000 visitors watched the Red Arrows at their previous show above the resort in 2014.

Regatta Chairman, Ivor Greer, said: "It's a good feeling, because they are very good attraction and we do enjoy it when they are here. They are a definite crowd-puller.

"It's a natural arena in the bay where they do the display. We are actually at eye-level with the pilots with some of the passes that they do.

"It will be the highlight of the weekend with the amount of people it will attract to Whitby."

The regatta, which starts on August 19 will include yacht racing, raft and rowing races, a vintage car rally, a fireworks display and a greasy pole climbing contest.

The regatta, which is in its 174th year, started with fishermen competing against each other in their fishing smacks and salmon cobbles.