AVIATION enthusiasts will be flocking to Elvington Airfield this bank holiday weekend as the Great Yorkshire Air Show gets under way.

The spectacular air displays, which include appearances by the Sea Vixen, Sea Fury, The Red Arrows and a breathtaking performance by the Kia Aerobatic Stunt Team, are expected to attract more than 30,000 people to what is being billed as the biggest and best event of its kind.

Organisers of the show, which begins on Sunday, are urging people to arrive at the airfield as early as possible on both days and to take their time leaving so that congestion on the roads is minimal.

Traffic is expected to build up along the B1228 as thousands of people make their way to the airfield.

The gates are expected to be opened at around 9am, giving people plenty of time to arrive for the midday start.

And after the displays finish at 5pm, spectators are invited to stay around and enjoy the other facilities, such as the bar, food court and RAF displays, with staff on hand until at least 7pm.

Event director Ken Cothliffe urged people travelling from the south of York to approach the airfield through Elvington village to help ease the situation.

He also said that the road into the airfield itself had been widened from one to two lanes in preparation for this weekend.

He said: "We are planning to get the gates open as early as possible, we would like to think that about 8.30am to 9am, which makes it a lot easier for people.

"We want people to get there as early as they can, and then after the show there's lots of other things for them to do - don't rush off.

"It's going to be a bigger and better show then we have ever done before, a lot more action, and the airfield will be the base for the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight for the very first time - to have that is a great honour."

Highlights over the two days include a daring stunt in which an aircraft is landed on a moving trailer, a Tornado flypast and the Spitfire V, which is returning to Yorkshire.