Crowds gather on the seafront to honour brave airman who crashed in Bournemouth

A MASS balloon release took place on Lyme Regis seafront last night (Monday) as a tribute to the Red Arrows pilot, Flt Lt Jon Egging, who died at the weekend.

Dozens of local people gathered on the Marine Parade, ahead of the launch, to observe a minute’s silence in memory of ‘Red 4’, which crashed during an air display at Bournemouth.

The crack RAF aerobatic team have been frequent visitors to Lyme Regis, helping to launch the town’s lifeboat week over many years. They are held in great affection by the town.

The balloon release was arranged by a group of local residents and donations collected on the evening will go to the Red Arrows.

“The tragic loss has shocked many of us - they were only in Lyme Regis a few weeks ago,” said Becca Overton, who organised the event with her sister Kelly Scott, mum Corinne Scott, friend Karina Holman and her sister Kirsty Godfrey.

Just Flowers, of Seaton, provided the helium for the red balloons.