Thousands at RAF air show featuring Red Arrows

The Red Arrows made an appearance at the air show

Thousands of people have flocked to the RAF Cosford Air Show, to see a parachute display and the Red Arrows taking to the skies.

The RAF Falcons kicked off the action when they jumped from their aircraft with their chutes at 11:30 BST, with the Red Arrows' performance at 15:30.

This year's theme has been "take flight", with the hope it would kickstart people's enthusiasm in aviation and "potentially a career in the Royal Air Force".

Almost 60,000 visitors were expected and on Sunday morning extensive queues were reported, particularly from the West Midlands side, on the M6, M54 towards junction 3 and then on the route to the airbase.

Amelia Richardson, 17, who has been flying gliders since she was 13 and is an instructor, said visitors on Sunday could have a go in a gliding simulator.

She was volunteering on two stands, with Cambridge Aero Club and RAF Shawbury Gliding Club.

"I just love sharing the world of aviation to people first hand from powered aircraft or gliders," Ms Richardson said.

"I've always wanted to [take charge of a flying machine] since I was younger," she said.

"I just love being in the air and anything with wings."

Instructor Amelia Richardson was volunteering on two stands

UBAS, the University of Birmingham Air Squadron, an RAF reserve unit that offers experiences to students in the West Midlands, also attended.

Quinn Partridge, a flight commander on the university air squadron, said he was responsible for making sure students "are where they should be" and providing opportunities to hopefully join the air force.

"[Because students] have the passion and want to explore the air force... you find that they really want to explore things, organise their own events or try and go to different stations," he said.

Quinn Partridge said students wanted "to explore things"