A NEW photographic book celebrating the thrills and spills of five Bournemouth Air Festivals was launched yesterday.

As the countdown to this year’s event continues, the Daily Echo’s eagerly-awaited Bournemouth Air Festival Book was unveiled at the Castlepoint Waterstones store.

Costing £15.95, the hardback sponsored by Castle Cameras, contains 176 pages of stunning shots by the Echo’s award-winning photographers.

Each year’s Air Festival is documented in full colour, along with the front page headlines which heralded the spectacular shows since 2008.

Katherine Jennings, assistant manager at Waterstones, said: “It’s an absolutely fantastic book of commemorative memorabilia which will appeal to visitors as well as local residents.

“We’ve 100 in stock and will be re-ordering next week when demand is expected to peak; I expect the book to become one of our best sellers; maybe even filling the top slot.”

Brian Callow, managing partner of Castle Cameras at Winton, said: “I think the book is amazing; our staff and customers always take pictures at the Air Festival but we can never match those shot by the Echo staff.”

Toby Granville, group editor, Daily Echo and Dorset Echo, said: “We are delighted to launch our latest book celebrating the first five years of the Air Festival; it gives readers another chance to relive all their exciting memories.”

Vincent Boni, managing director of Newsquest Dorset, said: “The Air Festival is a not to be missed date on everyone’s calendar. This new book will have equal appeal to aircraft boffins and enthusiasts, with a spectacular shot on every page.”

The official Bournemouth Air Festival brochure, sponsored by the Daily Echo, is also on sale at £6, including a £1 charity donation, wristband and access code to keep up to date with changes to the flying programme.

It is available from Echo offices and the Tourist Information Centre in Westover Road as well as other stockists.

To get a copy of the Air Festival book visit bournemouthecho.co.uk/books or phone 01305 830924.