Traders are preparing for soaring takings as a world famous flying event takes to the sky.

Thousands of people are expected to descend on Worthing this weekend for the second annual Birdman Rally.

Organiser Sharon Clarke estimates Birdman is worth up to £500,000 to the town's economy.

She said it generated at least £260,000 worth of free worldwide publicity for Worthing.

And with decent weather forecast, Mrs Clarke hopes the rest will be spent in cafes, restaurants, pubs and shops as up to 20,000 visitors pack the seafront to watch the rally.

She said £500,000 was an excellent return for the £50,000 it cost to stage the event.

Mrs Clarke said: “Over the weekend seafront businesses will see a 100-150% increase in trade.

“I am getting so many phone calls, especially from seafront traders getting themselves prepared.”

The fun starts at 12.30pm on Saturday, when 14 serious competitors will launch themselves from the pier in a bid to secure a £30,000 first prize for the flyer who goes over the 100m mark.

On Sunday, 21 fun flyers and 18 serious competitors will take the plunge from 1pm.

Entrants include Channel Five's The Gadget Show and former G4 pop opera singer Jonathan Ansell, who is leaping off the pier as a benchmark flyer.

Anybody who then jumps further than Jonathan will get his official birdman wings.

At noon on Sunday, there will also be a sea swim from the beach office, near the Lido.

Mrs Clarke hopes that in future years Worthing could turn the rally into a watersports festival involving windsurfers and kitesurfers as well.

She said: “Let's start using the water. It's the town's major selling point.”

* A free park and ride scheme based at Teville Gate has been set up by Worthing Borough Council for Birdman.

The bus, provided by Compass Travel, will run continuously between 10am and 6pm on both days, with an additional bus to cover the peak times of 10am to noon and 4pm to 6pm.

Parking in Teville Gate costs £2 for the day. There will be no charge for the bus.

Visitors will be able to pick up the bus from either Teville Gate or outside the Town Hall in Chapel Road.