Hover boys hope to skim in for festival

Two hovercraft from the Hovercraft Club of Great Britain (HCGB) visited the town on Saturday to try out the beach to see if it is suitable for a stage of the club's first national championships as part of the festival on July 29 and 30.

Up to 20 hovercraft would take part in the race, which would be sure to add extra appeal to the already successful event.

The hovercraft are capable of up to 70 miles an hour and the race would take place on the sea and on an area of the beach as well.

The HCGB has told Littlehampton harbourmaster Colin Hitchcock that it is keen to hold the race as part of its national circuit.

Mr Hitchcock, who sits on the seafront festival committee, said: "This is great news for the seafront festival, which tries to be visionary and include something new each year."

Littlehampton Seafront Festival chairman Terry Mills said as long as the race is deemed safe for spectators on the beach and for the racers themselves, it will be submitted to Arun District Council along with the rest of this year's plans.