Crowds at the Worthing Birdman event were even bigger today as the fun flyers flung themselves into the Channel for charity.

They included “The Pope”, alias Jamie Bezencenet, 24, from London, who gave his fellow birdmen the last rites.

Scotsman John Donnelly, 54, of Limbrick Lane, Worthing, was the Tartan Flyer, who went over the edge in a biplane for St Barnabas Hospice, Worthing.

The Cricketers pub, Broadwater Street West, Worthing, entered two barflys – landlord Alan Walker, 42, and regular Ricky Horgan, 54, of Poulters Lane, Worthing.

Other comedy characters included Laurel and Hardy, The Childcatcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and a crocodile.

Crowborough aeronauts Chris Pugh, 48, of Victoria Road, and Kevin Dewhurst, 45, of The Park, “took off” in a Lancaster bomber to raise funds in memory of a friend, Rob Botterman, who died of cancer three years ago aged 45.

The madcap aviators were followed by a second round of serious flying, led by Channel Five's The Gadget Show, which had a model of their glider tested in a wind tunnel.

It was piloted by show presenter Jason Bradbury, who said: “I am so scared I cannot tell you. It's an incredible event, a uniquely British event, and we should be proud of it.”

Sunday's benchmark flyer was Worthing College student Nick White, 16, of Hayling Gardens, Worthing. Around 120 competitors also took part in a sea swim, sponsored by Jacobs Steel estate agents, east of the Lido.

Event organiser Sharon Clarke said Birdman was worth at least £500,000 to the resort's economy in free publicity and the amount of money spent by visitors in cafes, restaurants, pubs and shops.