THE iconic Red Arrows have been booked to take part in a new Essex airshow.

The aeronautical acrobats will take to the skies above Essex once again, at an event organised by the team behind plans to bring back Southend Airshow.

As the Echo revealed, the campaignerswere not able to secure a venue in Southend, but say they have lined up somewhere else, although they are remaining tightlipped about the location.

September 12 has been listed in the Red Arrows’ schedule for the “Southend Airshow and Military Festival”.

Tom Curtis, one of the organisers, said: “We are still planning it all and are in talks about venues.

“We’re not announcing anything until that’s all locked down.

“We want to make sure contracts are signed and approved. We’re really excited about having the Red Arrows. It’s a great coup to get them.”

Fellow organiser Dan Rodgers said: “It’s always a massive boost for any airshow to have the Red Arrows. We’re extremely lucky to have them.

“Fingers crossed we can get an alternative venue soon. We have a great line up planned and, if we can pull it all off, everyone is going to be very happy.”

Graham Longley, Southend councillor responsible for tourism said: “If the organisers manage to find an alternative site, close to Southend, which people can get to easily, coupled with the Red Arrows, then they are to be congratulated and I wish them all the best.”

The organisers of the planned Southend Airshow and Military Festival had £100,000 in sponsorship money promised, and more than 24,000 social media followers, but threw in the towel after failing to secure a venue.

They claimed Southend seafront was too expensive and Ministry of Defence, which owns the shoreline at East Beach, Shoebury, raised concerns about using that area.

The airshow was axed by the previous Tory administration in 2013, which said it could no longer pay the £150,000 annual bill to host the event, which attracted thousands of spectators.

Mr Curtis has so far refused to reveal other potential locations outside the borough.

It is not known if the festival’s sponsors, which formed the majority of the £100,000 needed to put on the event, would back it being held elsewhere.

The first, one day, airshow was staged on the spring bank holiday, May 26, 1986, when the Red Arrows provided the grand climax, as they did for most of the following airshows.