THE FAMOUS Red Arrows will make an 11th hour decision over whether to go ahead with a much anticipated flight over the Solent tonight (August 10).

Bosses of the RAF acrobatic air team say they are en route to Bournemouth - where they will begin their performance for Cowes Week.

But heavy rain is threatening to put a dampener on the display, which will also coincide with Cunard's 'Three Queens' leaving Southampton.

The well-known jets are due to perform as ships, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2, set sail from the city's port.

A spokesperson for the Red Arrows previously said the display, which is due to begin at 7.30pm, will still take place this evening.

"It would take quite heavy rain for us to not go ahead with the display," the spokesperson added.

But heavy rain has continued to fall in Southampton this afternoon.

Now a spokesperson said the team will make a "last minute call" on the performance.

They are due to leave Bournemouth at 7.20pm before doing a display as part of Cowes Week.

They will then perform a smoke-fly over above the Three Queens at approximately 7.52pm.

Weather experts, the Met Office, are predicting heavy rain over the Southampton area until around 6pm, with the sun starting to break through around 7pm.

If the display does go ahead, shoreside viewing is recommended from Lee-on-the-Solent, East Cowes Esplanade, West Cowes, Stokes Bay and Sea View, Ryde Esplanade or Southsea.

As part of the Three Queens event, Cunard is hosting five lucky children who have won a competition to become a ‘Captain for the Day’ experience.

To win the competition, run in conjunction with the Daily Echo, entrants had to share with Cunard, in their own words, why they deserved to be a ‘captain for the day'.

The children will have a tour of Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth, spending time with captains and a visit to the bridge.

They will then enjoy lunch on board and finish their day with a trip round all three Queens in a speedboat.

It will also be the first time the Three Queens have docked together in Southampton since 2016.

The Cunard fleet also docked in Southampton in 2015, when the company celebrated its 175th anniversary.