THE world- renowned Red Arrows - grounded for more than a week after a fault was found with a Hawk jet - will be flying over the Minehead skies next Wednesday.

The aerobatic display team are the headline act at the town's new summer festival.

But organisers were left holding their breath for days after the RAF's entire Hawk fleet was grounded when engineers detected a crack in the ejector seat of one of the planes based at RAF Valley on Anglesey.

No flights could take place until every plane in the fleet - including those used by the Red Arrows - had been inspected.

But on Wednesday the Ministry of Defence, who had ordered the grounding, confirmed the Red Arrows had been cleared to fly following safety checks on the ejector seats.

Julian Highfield, resort director at Butlins, which is organising the festival with support from West Somerset Council and Minehead Town Council, said: "Naturally we were over the moon when we received the news that the jets will be airborne in time for the festival.

"While pilot safety is paramount, it is simply great news that all's well and they are fit to fly."

Mr Highfield said the festival - the first to be staged - would have gone ahead as planned as organisers had also lined up the Red Devils - the official parachute display team of the Parachute Regiment and the British Army - as well as a host of other entertainment.

But he said to have both teams in action in Minehead for the first time would make a great day out for families.

The problem with the ejector seat was detected during a routine inspection.

A stark warning about the importance of the equipment came less than five months ago following a mid-air crash between two Red Arrows display planes during a training exercise in Crete.

Flight Lieutenant Mike Ling suffered minor injuries after being forced to eject from his plane, while the second pilot managed to land safely.

Festival organisers will now be keeping their fingers crossed for fine weather on the day of the event, since both the Red Arrows and Red Devils' displays are subject to favourable conditions.

The entertainment will run from noon to 4pm throughout the town.

The Red Devils are scheduled to drop from the skies at 1.30pm, with the Red Arrows performing their aerial tricks at 3pm.

Warren Road will be closed for the day to host a variety of street entertainment, with other attractions are taking place at key sites along The Avenue.

The Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service are due to demonstrate how they rescue trapped road traffic victims at 2.15pm.

A park and ride facility will be running from 11am to 5pm from the 20-acre car boot sale site off the Ellicombe roundabout on the outskirts of Minehead, offering round trips to the town and back.

Landowner Derrick Scott is allowing the land to be used free of charge so that the proceeds from motorists can benefit two local charities - the Regal Theatre's Lift Off appeal and the cancer charity South West Fishing for Life.

Volunteers from both charities will be helping to marshal the park and ride scheme.

The West Somerset Railway will also be hitching up all its available carriages to offer a park and train service for visitors.

Overflow parking fields at Bishops Lydeard station will be opened up and passengers can be picked up along the whole route to Minehead.

With people expected to flood in to the town for the spectacle, drivers are being urged to use the park and ride or park and train schemes to ease potential congestion.

West Somerset Council's lead member for economic development and tourism, Cllr David Sanders, said Butlins had worked hard to successfully bring two top aerial display teams to the town.

"Minehead has never experienced anything like this and we hope that visitors and residents will enjoy an exhilarating day out," he said.