The countdown has begun to the spectacular Worthing Festival, with the Red Arrows as the star attraction.

The three-day event, which starts on Friday and runs into Saturday and Sunday, is expected to attract up to 250,000 visitors to the town.

Crowd-pullers include flypasts, fireworks, a parachute display, a free concert starring The Real Thing and an air-sea rescue demonstration.

Profits from the festival will go towards the St Barnabas Hospice/Chestnut Tree House Appeal.

Worthing town centre manager Sharon Clarke said: "This event is a real community effort and no public money has been used in staging it.

"Worthing Borough Council has kindly allowed the money for the rentals of the sites to be used to provide the fireworks, flying and parachute displays."

The Red Arrows will fly over the seafront from 12.30pm on Friday, followed by an end-of-the-pier fireworks display at 10pm.