GIANT teddy bears, superheroes and an array of floating beasts took to the skies for the county’s biggest kite festival.

Undeterred by the almost windless skies at the weekend, kite flyers descended on Stanmer Park for the Brighton Kite Festival.

Display teams performed stunts and enormous blue whales and skeletons floated in the air.

The annual event, now in its 39th year, is the longest running free kite festival in the country.

Simon Hennessy is event chairman.

He said: “It’s not been the windiest year but there was still enough to get all the big ones up.

“I have been so impressed as always by the quality of the displays. There have been some sensational kites. We had a life size whale in the air.

“There were lots of people here enjoying the sunshine and the kites and there’s lots for families to enjoy.”

Though a devoted flyer himself, Simon rarely has time to try out any new tricks over the weekend because he is too busy making sure things run smoothly.

Seven-and-a-half-month-old Isabella Lloyd was enthralled with the bright colours and giant flying kites. Her mother Harriet said: “It was really lovely.

“There wasn’t much wind at the start of the day on Saturday but by the afternoon they managed to get the Big Bear and Mr Incredible up in the air.

“Isabella was really sweet.

“It was her first experience of seeing kites and she really enjoyed it.”

Brighton Kite Flyers started the festival in 1978.

Since then it has grown from an enthusiasts get-together into the biggest event in the kiting calendar.

The two-day spectacular sees thousands of visitors marvel at ten foot superheroes and professional display teams performing astounding tricks.

The weekend event started with the altitude sprint in which the flyers compete to get their kites flying the highest and the fastest over Stanmer Park. But it is the displays, such as the 60ft blue teddy bear and lifesize blue whale, that attract the biggest crowds.

To see more pictures from the event visit theargus.co.uk.

l Pictures by Simon Dack