THOUSANDS enjoyed a stunning display by flying group the Red Arrows to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day at Newtown Park in the New Forest.

Traffic jams built up as a larger than expected crowd made their way to the showground at Boldre, near Lymington.

But their patience was rewarded as they were left thrilled by the spectacular aerobatic exhibition which filled the sky with red, white and blue smoke.

The Red Arrows took to the skies for the 21-minute display near a former airfield used during the build-up to the invasion of June 6, 1944.

Hosted by Charles Burnett III, Saturday’s event raised money for the Daily Echo-backed Help for Heroes charity.

It included a display of Second World War aircraft including two Spitfires and a Hurricane, as well as other military equipment.

Earlier Herb Simmons, from North Carolina, USA, who was stationed at the Lymington Advanced Landing Ground in the weeks leading up to the landings and is believed to be the last surviving member of the 50th Fighter Squadron, unveiled a new information panel produced by the New Forest Remembers World War II project.