IT was just a flying visit, but a spectacular performance from the RAF's Red Arrows left the thousands who jammed Bournemouth's seafront gasping for more.

The daring pilots of the world's most famous aerobatic display team had barely room for manoeuvre as they flew in formation a mile up in the air at speeds of up to 800mph, with their wingtips sometimes barely 6ft apart.

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In his first year leading the team, Red One Dicky Patounas pulled out all the stops, stunning the crowds with the dazzling chevron formation, which the Red Arrows have not flown for 20 years.

The daring pilots also performed their famous Heart formation, which involved two Red Arrows creating a heart shape with their smoke trails, while a third flew through the middle making an arrow shape.

But August 12 was a red-letter day for more than one reason. In the past nine years the Bournemouth Red Arrows Association has raised £80,000 for charity, but this year committee members hoped to reach £100,000 as they celebrated their 10th anniversary. And thanks to the generosity of visitors, townsfolk and local businesses during the display and at a charity auction after the show, the association smashed its target, raising more than £20,000. A painting donated by artist and association member Colin van Geffen of the Red Arrows performing their short diamond bend sold for £3,000.

Chairman of BRAA, Terry Trevett, said: "I'm overwhelmed by the response we've had to our appeal. The generosity of our supporters is really unsurpassed."

News of the association's fundraising feat will be a real boost to Bournemouth Scouts' ambitious appeal, which was this year's chosen charity. The £1 million Target 2007 Appeal aims to turn Butcher's Coppice in Kinson into a state-of-the-art centre of excellence in time for the centenary of the first experimental camp on Brownsea Island.

Julian Jones, managing director of Drilling Systems Ltd, the financial backer behind this year's display, nominated the charity after reading about it in the Daily Echo.

First published: August 13, 2005