THIS year's Biggin Hill International Air Fair was the biggest in the show's 45-year history.

The News Shopper-sponsored event was attended by a record 120,000 people over the weekend, compared with 95,000 last year and 70,000 in 2006.

The main highlight was the role demonstration by the RAF in its 90th anniversary year, which culminated in a spectacular pyrotechnics display.

Air show organiser Colin Hitchins said: "The role demonstration was awesome.

"It was a great piece of theatre but with serious undertones - these people risk their lives overseas."

Crowds also enjoyed the debut European appearance of the Sarangs - the Indian Air Force's helicopter display team - which attracted a number of visitors from London's Indian community.

The award for best individual display went to the French Air Force Mirage 2000 and the best team trophy to the Spitfire and Mustang flown by Paul Bonhomme and Nigel Lamb.

Traffic problems

TRAFFIC chaos meant a lot of people were unable to get to the airshow and were left stuck outside in their cars.

The gates even had to be shut due to the sheer volume of people coming to the show, which was attended on the Sunday by around 70,000.

One bus left Bromley South train station at 10.10am and did not arrive at the show until 2.40pm, a five-and-a-half-mile route.

It took father-of-two Matt Roberts two hours to drive one mile.

The 47-year-old, of Pinecrest Gardens, Orpington, said: "It was awful - I've been in previous years and never known it like it was this year.

"They could have had police out at junction points telling people what was going on."

Organiser Colin Hitchins denied there was a traffic management issue and claimed the same traffic plan had worked for the past five years without any problems.

He said: "We feel sorry for those stuck outside in the traffic, but we assure people we will see if we can improve things next year.

"Every venue has a capacity, it wasn't a traffic management issue - there was just so many people there."

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