THE Air Festival should be become the "Edinburgh Festival" of air shows, Bournemouth's head of tourism has said.

Mark Smith said he wanted it to become a national event and attract even more than the 830,000 people who came this year.

The council has celebrated the success of the four day event by formally approving another next year.

Mark Smith said: "After more than 30 years in tourism I would say the reaction has been bigger, stronger and more positive than any other activity I have been involved with."

He told the Daily Echo afterwards: "What Edinburgh is to performing arts, we want Bournemouth to be to air shows. We won't compete with Farnborough, which is mainly commercial aircraft, but the mix of planes will make Bournemouth a national event."

Mr Smith said the special evening events - including the "magical" heliosphere - had made Bournemouth's airshow "unique".

The organisers of Eastbourne air festival made inquiries with Bournemouth council about its success after their own show lost more than £300,000 after charging for admission.

President of the Bournemouth Chamber of Trade Nigel Hedges fully backed building on the festival element.

He wanted business to open later and have more themed decorations and promotions, and said: "Everyone's grinning like idiots at the success. In 52 years I've never seen Bournemouth like it was on Saturday."

Commodore Jamie Miller of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary hopes to bring a marine invasion force and an American warship next year.

And he has suggested a Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra concert from the decks of a ship with the cliffs as a natural amphitheatre.

Town centre manager Roger Parker said the town's reputation would be strengthened by showing it could stage such a huge event, and suggested staging other big events during the year.

Cllr Robert Lawton said the decision to close the East Overcliff created a "fantastic" viewing area.