SELF-CONFESSED petrol head Irene Griffiths' dreams came true when she met the Red Arrows for her 90th birthday treat.

Every year the pensioner from Ferndown, who loves Formula One, speedway and power boating, looks forward to watching the RAF display team's spectacular aerobatic display in the skies above Bournemouth.

But today she will have something extra special to look forward to after her heroes revealed that they would be performing two special tricks, the Chevron and the Phoenix, which the Red Arrows have not flown for 20 years.

"I'm absolutely over the moon to have met them," she said. "I think they're wonderful. They're so fast and they're so exciting to watch."

The team landed at FR Aviation at Bournemouth Airport yesterday evening where Red One, Squadron leader Dicky Patounas, said the team was delighted to be back in Dorset.

"We're very lucky and greatly appreciate all the support we have in Bournemouth," he said. "Today's display will be a little shorter than normal, but hopefully more dynamic with something happening all the time."

The Red Arrows visit was also a dream come true for 19-year-old air cadet Jamie Gawler, from 130 Squadron Bournemouth Air Training Corps, who came face-to-face with his idol - Red One.

The youngster, from Northbourne, who beat thousands of candidates to win one of just 20 places to train with the RAF to fly, told the squadron leader his ambition is to one-day lead the display team.

"It was amazing, absolutely fantastic to meet them," the teenager said. "It's made me even more determined to be a Red Arrow."

Red Arrows flyer Dave Slow probably has the most inappropriate name for a fast jet pilot, but he promised the excited crowds gathered along the clifftops for today's display at noon to strap themselves in for a roller coaster ride.

"You have to fly something really fast with a name like mine," he said.

THE Bournemouth Red Arrows Association, the group behind the Arrows' display each year, is hoping to hit the £100,000 fundraising mark after its 10th Arrows display today. Guests at a special charity lunch at the BIC will bid for auction prizes to support the Butchers Coppice Scout camp at Kinson, beneficiaries of this year's display, sponsored by local firm Drilling Systems Ltd.

ECHO roadshows will be out and about today, offering souvenir posters of the Red Arrows and a packet of Starburst sweets for just 50p. For an extra 50p fans can cheer on the daring pilots with a foam Red Arrow glove. Don't forget to buy Saturday's Daily Echo for the spectacular pictures of the display.

To buy pictures of the event click here and type Red Arrows 2005