THOUSANDS of people enjoyed a stunning display by the world famous Red Arrows this afternoon in clear blue skies above Hampshire.

The unmistakeable and unforgettable sight of the nine red planes performing a series of death-defying stunts took place above an event commemorating the 70th anniversary of D-Day at Newtown Park in the New Forest.

Daily Echo:

Traffic jams built up as a larger than expected crowd made their way to 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 at 5.30pm for the 21-minute display, part of a major D-Day commemoration at Newtown Park, which is near a former airfield used during the build-up to the invasion of June 6, 1944.

Hosted by Charles Burnett III, today’s event was raising 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.

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.