THE number of people attending Bournemouth Air Festival will break the million barrier today as the town looks forward to a spectacular finale to the four-day event.

Crowds are being greeted by glorious sunshine today and the forecast is for a scorcher.

On Saturday more than 340,000 people packed the beaches of Bournemouth, according to Dorset police, as the big three flew in to entertain the record crowds crammed onto the cliff tops and sands.

Starting with a Sunseeker yacht hijacked by pirates, followed by stunning Russian aerobatics from the Yakovlevs and the Daily Echo-backed Red Bull Matadors, the third day certainly started with a bang.

The marines showed their mettle by dropping by Lynx helicopter before storming the yacht, to rescue several hostages - included the Daily Echo's columnist Faith Eckersall (the fools).

The RAF Falcon Display Team also appeared at the Festival for the first time after pulling out due to windy weather on Thursday and Friday.

The team put on a breathtaking performance as they jumped 10,000 feet from a Chinook at 180mph with chutes deployed in a sack formation, before landing on a platform about 50 yards wide on Bournemouth seafront.

Other highlights today included the Sally B Flying Fortress, the Blades, the powerful grace of the Chinook as well as the Kitty Hawk and Guinot Wing-walkers. Nostalgia was flown in with the Hurricane, Lancaster, Spitfire and Mustang, providing a poignant moment for many in this, the 70th anniversary year since the start of the Second World War.

But the big moments came towards the end of the day as the Vulcan, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Red Arrows thrilled the crowds.