BLACKPOOL Airport took a step back in time on Monday with a spectacular air show recreating the first ever flights from Squires Gate in 1909.

The event, which marked the 95th anniversary of Blackpool Airport, saw pilots taking off in microlight aircraft built in the same simple style as the experimental machines of 1909.

Two women dressed in period customer waved off the pilots from the Ince Blundell Flying Club, and one pilot wore Edwardian style goggles and leathers to help recreate the atmosphere of the unique event 95 years ago.

The 12 microlight aircraft soared into the sky and circled low over the airfield just as their pioneering predecessors did on the first flying day.

Paul Whelan, executive chairman of City Hopper Airports Limited, said: "It has gone extremely well today. We are delighted the celebrations have continued in this way.

"As owners of the country's oldest airport we are honoured to celebrate the very first days of flight in this country. At the 1909 flying exhibition no-one could have visualised how aviation would develop and how important it would become."

Blackpool's first ever flying meeting was the brainchild of Blackpool's mayor, Alderman Thomas Bickerstaffe.

More than 200,000 people flocked to Blackpool to watch the first ever UK air show on Monday October 18 1909. The event lasted six days and featured top fliers from England, France and Italy.

Forced landings, mostly caused by strong wind and heavy rain, were made on a beach, in a farmer's field and on a nearby golf course but no pilots were hurt.

But conditions were much better for the anniversary celebrations. The sun shone as the small aircraft completed three circuits of the airfield flying at between 800 and 1000ft.

Roger Jenkins, chairman of the Ince Blundell Flying Club, who flew one of the microlights said: "It was exhilarating. It is always a one off experience when you fly in one of these aircraft. We are flying slightly more sophisticated aircraft today but we all trained in ones very much like those the pioneering group flew in 1909. This is 'seat of your pants' flying which is what it would have been like back then.

"We are all proud and honoured to be part of the celebrations here in Blackpool, it is somewhere we have always wanted to fly to and hopefully we will make it back in five years' time for the 100th anniversary."

And Mr Whelan says he is already looking forward to the airport's centenary.

"We are having ongoing discussions with tour operators and business aviators about developing the airport and hope it continues to grow," he added: "By the airport's 100th anniversary we hope to have a new terminal built, if not before then.

"As Lancashire's only airport we want to create new services connecting the rest of the world. In 1909 this was just a big grass field. Now it is an international airport that is quickly growing in stature."