THEY may lack the star quality of the famous display team with whom they – nearly – share their name.

But as thousands of eyes gaze skyward to watch the amazing skills of the Red Arrows, another hard-working group will be doing their bit for the Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival – at ground level.

Wearing their own red boiler suits and red caps, 11 local Rotarians will be hoping to catch the eye of visitors to the seafront and beach today and tomorrow in the guise of the Red Barrows.

The Rotarians will be hard at work on both days, selling festival merchandise from five wheelbarrows that have been painted bright red for the occasion. All the money they raise will benefit the airshow.

David Bryant, a member of Lowestoft East Point Rotary Club, said: 'After last year's air show we came up with this idea of trying to sell more Air Festival merchandise to boost the income for the event.

'The idea of using red wheelbarrows was greeted with enthusiasm by club members and thanks to generous sponsorship from Persimmon Homes (Anglia) Ltd, Travis Perkins and Jewsons, we have been able to get up and running for little cost.'

The Red Barrows team will not only sell the official souvenir programmes, tee-shirts, caps and badges, but also cold drinks and inflatable hammers. They will be taking donations in collecting buckets.

The airshow managing director, Paul Bayfield, said: 'This is a wonderfully wacky but novel idea, which we really welcome. We hope it will capture the imagination of the public and encourage them to look at what the red-barrowers have for sale. If we can increase our sales by this initiative, it will be a welcome addition to our fund-raising.'

Meanwhile, 126 St John Ambulance Suffolk volunteers will be out in force during the airshow.

The nurses, doctors, paramedics and first aiders are all giving up their time to be provide medical support over the two days of the event. Cadet divisions from the county will also be represented.

People requiring medical assistance can visit one of the three mobile treatment centres, which will be located at Royal Green, near East Point Pavillion; Claremont Park car park and The Esplanade at Pakefield.

Souvenir programmes and merchandise will also be available from the red air festival booths along the seafront.