JUST a week after losing their main sponsor, organisers of the Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival have secured a new partnership with one of the region's major attractions.

JUST a week after losing their main sponsor, organisers of the Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival have secured a new partnership with one of the region's major attractions.

While the search continues for a main supporter, Africa Alive! in Kessingland, has agreed to be a gold sponsor of this year's event on Thursday and Friday, July 24 and 25.

Full details are still be finalised but the new partnership means that the air show will be able to make use of the wildlife park's car park as a park and ride site on both days.

It is able to accommodate up to 1,300 vehicles, whose occupants will be taken to the seafront in special buses.

The festival's regular park and ride site in the north of the town at Dip Farm, Corton, will continue to be used to accommodate traffic travelling to the town from the north.

The new sponsorship deal is just part of a barrage of good news for organisers this week as several of last year's sponsors have already renewed their bookings for this year and 400 people have already signed up to be Friends for the summer spectacular.

Paul Bayfield, managing director of the air festival committee, said: “This is a big improvement on this time last year and provides a big boost to air show finances. It is hoped that many more will follow suit to beat last year's figure when 1,100 people enrolled to become Friends.”

Tickets for a fundraising evening on Friday, February 29, are also selling fast. A total of 60 tickets have already been sold. The function is being held at the Hotel Victoria, on Kirkley Cliff, with tickets on sale for £25 each, which can be obtained by calling Tricia Bayfield on 01502 568306 or email triciabayfield@talktalk.net

The air show is already attracting interest from traders, caterers and stallholders with bids coming in for use of spaces along the seafront which every year is packed with a variety of attractions and entertainment.

For more details on sponsorship and trade stand opportunities contact Keith Moughton on 01502 523398 or email keith.moughton@waveney.gov.uk

To become a Friend of the air festival, fill in the entry form on this page and send it back to the address supplied.

Friends, sponsored by Chadds department store, will receive a special certificate on joining, an official souvenir programme and a badge before the air festival. They will also gain entry into a draw to win a flight with Denny Dobson in his Extra 300CXSW.