THE excited cheers of more than 200 York youngsters filled the air as record-breaking parachutists dropped in on Elvington Airfield.

The applause reached fever pitch as the ten display airmen of the RAF Falcons hit the ground running.

The kids, their adult chaperones and a few enthusiasts came to Elvington to see a record broken, and despite the threats from heavy clouds and even heavier winds, they were not disappointed.

The immaculately turned out Falcons, the RAF's dedicated parachute display team, set the world record for a parachute formation display achieved from the highest jump height.

Aided by oxygen masks and staving off the threat of frostbite, the ten brave airmen leapt from 25,000ft, freefalling for nearly two minutes before starting their formation displays.

After much preparation, and a few anxious moments for the BBC Record Breakers team filming their 30th series, the jump was completed much to the relief and excitement of the team.

"It was pretty cold up there," said Sgt Keith Chapman, still suffering from the minus 43 degree temperatures endured by his team.

"The air was pretty thin, but we have done it and that is the important thing. It feels good to be a record breaker and I'd be happy to do it again."

The whole experience lasted six minutes, from leaving the Hercules to hitting to the ground in, or around, the drop zone marked out in front of the screaming young fans.

Many of the groups of youngsters watching the event did more than enough to scream their way onto the TV screens, with the show scheduled for either November or December.

The show presenters went down a storm with the kids, with Shovell, the percussionist from M People, a particular favourite.

"These are a noisy bunch of kids," he told the Evening Press.

"This is exactly the sort of atmosphere that we wanted to create, it is fun to work in front of this lot."

The show's producer Jeremy Daldry was also pleased.

"It has all gone very well," he said.

"The record was broken and the kids were fantastic. It will make a great show and I am very, very happy."

Updated: 08:46 Friday, August 17, 2001