THE weather caused disappointment for Red Arrows watchers in Wellington on Friday afternoon as the iconic RAF display team failed to appear.

The Red Arrows had been due to fly over the Tonedale area late in the afternoon as they prepared to take part in the annual Sidmouth Regatta Airshow.

They were flying to Exeter Airport from an earlier display in Clacton, Essex.

But cloud and torrential rain showers hit the Wellington area, causing some minor flash flooding, and the Red Arrows instead re-routed to the other side of the Blackdown Hills and flew via Axminster, in East Devon.

Later, the aircraft were due to return to their base in RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire.

A full Red Arrows flight comprises nine iconic red colour BAE Systems’ Hawk T.1A fast-jets, but this year the team has been displaying with only eight aircraft.

The Red Arrows will be celebrating its 60th season next year and has already flown nearly 5,000 displays in 57 countries since its formation in 1965.

Red Arrows pilots usually serve a three-year tour with the display team and must previously have flown with frontline squadrons before they can be recruited.

Pilots currently serving have completed operational tours in Afghanistan and Libya, or been part of the UK and Falkland Islands’ Quick Reaction Alert.

After their Red Arrows tour, they return to operational, training, and other roles in the Royal Air Force.