organisers of the Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival are urging local people to sign-up to support this year's event.Every year for the past five years, hundreds of supporters have joined the Friends of the Air Festival and their contribution has gone directly towards the cost of the flying displays.

organisers of the Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival are urging local people to sign-up to support this year's event.

Every year for the past five years, hundreds of supporters have joined the Friends of the Air Festival and their contribution has gone directly towards the cost of the flying displays.

Now organisers are once again looking for people to show their backing by either renewing their membership or becoming a new Friend of the Air Festival ahead of this year's event on Thursday, August 12 and Friday, August 13.

Paul Bayfield, managing director of the festival's 'not for profit' company, said: 'The event is a huge undertaking which takes 12 months of detailed planning. We look upon our Friends as an indication that they are fully behind us and want to see the air festival continue to prosper and provide two days of great family entertainment.'

Friends will enjoy benefits and privileges, including exclusive prize draws. Friends sponsors this year include the Hotel Victoria, Livingstones Restaurant of Kessingland and the Hippodrome Circus at Great Yarmouth.

A new feature this year means the Friends will also have access to their own exclusive area on the seafront on both days. Located on the Putting Green, this area can only be accessed by people wearing a 2010 Friends badge and there they will be able to watch the event from a seating area which also includes a marquee. Refreshments will also be on sale.

Two types of membership are available - individual at �12 or family, covering two adults and up to two children, at �25.

Individual members will receive entry to the exclusive enclosure, a Friends 2010 badge and car sticker, a Friends 2010 certificate, a free souvenir programme (worth �3.50) as soon as it is printed, free entry into a monthly draw for a meal-for-two with wine at the Hotel Victoria's Coast Restaurant, monthly entry into draws for complimentary tickets to local attractions and family events, and a 15pc discount at the air festival's online shop.

Those joining as a family will receive all the above benefits as well as family entry to the exclusive Friends enclosure, four Friends badges and stickers and two souvenir programmes. Families with more than two children can include additional children for �5 each.

All members will get a password giving them access to an exclusive area on the official air festival website, where they will be the first to receive the latest news including information on flying displays.

It is also intended to keep Friends up to date via an e-newsletter which only members can access.

Special leaflets giving full details on how to join the Friends have been sent to all past members. They are also being distributed to many homes and outlets in Lowestoft, including the Journal office.

You can also fill in the membership form on the website at www.lowestoftairfestival.co.uk