AN airshow is set to return to the skies above Southend next September.

The inaugural Southend Airshow & Military Festival is set to take place on September 12 and 13, 2015.

It had been hoped to bring back the show this year, but the Southend Airshow Community Interest Company found itself £70,000 short of the required £150,000.

This has now been overcome and the show is set to become an annual fixture in the Southend events calendar.

Headline sponsor is the Toomey Motor Group who joined a broad range of businesses, which have helped to bring back the show after it was axed by Southend Council because of the costs involved.

Donations from members of the public have also reached £1,800.

Dan Rodgers, event manager for the show, said: “Its extremely exciting to see after 18 months of hard work behind the scenes that we are finally able to confirm a date and bring a fantastic people's airshow back to Southend”

The show has been resurrected thanks to airshow enthusiasts Thomas Curtis and John Delaney.

Mr Curtis, director of media and communications, said: “There is no doubt in my mind that Southend Airshow & Military Festival will be the highlight of Summer 2015, the team has worked incredibly hard over the last year and a half to create a fully costed, workable and sustainable event that Southend can be proud of and put the town on the map.

“We will have more announcements to come, but for now we hope the whole town is excited as we are that the airshow is back.”

Mr Delaney, director of sponsorships and partnerships, added: “Its been a long haul to get here and I am delighted we can now look forward to an Airshow in Southend for 2015. The event takes place on the recognized Battle of Britain weekend but the weekend of the 12th will also be the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

“Its a great reminder of the British sprit to never give up no matter what the odds against may be, and our sponsors have made the return of the airshow possible so my deepest thanks to all of them for supporting the return of the airshow.”

Anyone interested in sponsoring the show can e-mail sponsors@southendairshow.co.uk