THOUSANDS of families descended on Merseyside over the weekend for the 20th Southport Airshow.

Spectators lined the beach, promenade and pier to watch the spectacular acrobatic performance against stunning blue skies.

Excited crowds were also treated to some of Britain’s most famous military aircraft as World War II favourites the Spitfire and Lancaster Bomber flew over head.

Brought forward a couple of weeks to prevent a repeat of last year’s wash out, organisers could not have wished for better weather.

Visitors on Saturday watched five hours of acrobatic splendour as they saw propellers, wings and engines swoop and dive between the clouds.

Top display teams such as the wing walkers wowed watching families as daredevils performed on the wings. But the highlights of the show were the military aircraft on display.

The airshow yesterday saw a spitfire return to RAF Woodvale – where it had protected Merseyside during World War II.

It was joined by another wartime classic the Lancaster bomber.

Perhaps the most startling aircraft to perform over the weekend was the Vulcan bomber.

The giant plane tore through the Southport sky with its engines heard miles away.

Saturday’s performance was rounded off by Britain’s Red Arrows which filled the skies with plumes of red, white and blue smoke.

The air show drew families and aviation enthusiasts from across the North West.

Karl Delamar, from Birkenhead, said: “It’s great. It’s the first time we’ve been and we’ve had fantastic weather for it.”

Sefton council’s member for tourism Cllr Mike Booth said he expected official figures would confirm the weekend was a record breaker. “I would be surprised if it wasn’t the most successful show yet.”