THE annual Flying Man Festival – which sees local daredevils abseiling down the tower of All Saints’ Church – has been held in Pocklington.

The festival, which raises money for the church and local charities, also included a hot air balloon display, flying and abseiling teddies and exhibitions with the climax of the weekend being the Pocklington Air Show, which featured a display from the Real Aeroplane Company in Breighton on Sunday afternoon.

The event is held each year in honour of Thomas Pelling, a travelling showman who toured the country showing off his daredevil routine of “flying” between buildings using a mechanism of ropes and pulleys.

He came to Pocklington in 1733 with the aim of “flying” over Market Street between the roof of All Saints’ Church to the Star Inn, but his equipment failed and he fell to his death in the church grounds.