BUMPER seaside visitor numbers enjoyed watching and taking part in a high-octane ride for thrillseekers.

More than 40,000 people visited Bognor on Saturday and Sunday as the town played host to the Aerial Birdman – a 135 metre zip wire which saw participants whizzing over shoppers’ heads at 50 feet.

Businesses reported bumper sales from the 40,277 counted people who came in over the weekend including 17,915 Sunday visitors - the highest Sunday count since a footfall camera was first installed earlier this summer.

Almost 300 flyers, including Arun District Council chairman Andrew Cooper, Butlin’s resort director Jeremy Pardey, Superman and Father Christmas, zoomed through the town’s main shopping area at speeds of up to 30mph.

The event saw participants raising money for good causes including Bognorphenia and Sussex Snow Drop Trust while staff at Access UK Scaffolding flew for a 7-year-old girl who needs stem cell surgery.

Toyubur Rahman, Bognor Regis town centre manager, said: “This is the most exciting event I have ever organised, it was created to give people an experience worth having when coming into a town centre and to put a huge smile on people’s faces.

“I hope this event will help to change the perception of the town and encourage more people and businesses to come to the town.”