Police carry out final checks ahead of Sunderland International Airshow

The annual event is held on the city's seafront at Roker and Seaburn and is the biggest free annual airshow in Europe, attracting around one million spectators over the course of three days.

And Northumbria Police will be offering its support to the event to help spectators enjoy a fun family day out.

For the second year running the policing operation will be lead by Silver Commander Superintendent Sarah Pitt who, along with her team, has been working closely with the organisers to ensure the event runs smoothly and is turbulence free.

Plans are in place and officers will be on patrol in and around the city throughout the airshow weekend to help visitors to the event as well as support local residents. Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Vera Baird QC, said: “The Sunderland Airshow is always a popular occasion amongst local people and those we welcome from further afield. 2016 promises to be one of the biggest and best yet and requires a lot of hard work and planning, making sure everything runs smoothly and safely for the many visitors.

"I hope everyone has a great time and I wish to thank all those involved – organisers, our police officers and partners – without them the event wouldn’t be the year on year success it’s famous for.” Superintendent Sarah Pitt said: "The Sunderland International Airshow is a fantastic event for the city, we look forward to it each year and are really pleased and proud to once again be involved and offering our support.

"I was Silver Commander for the event last year and am thrilled to be back leading the policing operation again this year.

"Over the past few months we have been working hard to put plans and preparations in place to make sure visitors to the show have a fun and enjoyable family day out and that our local residents are not disrupted too much.

"We will have officers on patrol in and around the city throughout the airshow weekend and I would encourage people to stop and speak to them, they are there to support visitors to the event and our local communities and will help in anyway they can. "Over the next few days we'll be offering some crime prevention and safety messages, as well as supporting the organisers with traffic and travel advice, and I'd urge members of the public to take a few moments to read and consider these and help make Sunderland International Airshow a success for all."