Flying thorough the air with the greatest of ease, two readers of The Argus enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the skies above Sussex.

Rachel Thompson and Emma Owen won a competition to take off with two of the most popular performers at this year's Shoreham Air Show, sponsored by The Argus.

Credit control manager Rachel, from Shoreham, got strapped in with the Utterly Butterly wing walking team and sped through the skies perched on top of one of their special bi-wing planes.

The brave 31-year-old showed no signs of nerves before she took off.

As boyfriend Darren Jeffrey, 29 and parents Ann and Roy looked on, Rachel flew 500ft from the ground at about 90mph.

Afterwards, Rachel said: "It was fantastic and not scary at all. I didn't want to come down."

Mother-of-one Emma, 29, of Mafeking Road, Brighton, was rather more nervous before her flight, not surprising as her pilot was daredevil Denny Dobson, a popular self-taught aerobatic pilot who performs up to 50 displays a season.

But after 15 minutes of rolls, dives, twists, turns and flying upside down, she too was desperate to get in the air again.

Emma, who has a two-year-old son Jacob, said: "It was brilliant. Once I was strapped in I felt really safe.

"I would recommend it to anyone."

This year's Shoreham Air Show, held in aid of the Royal Air Force Association (RAFA), is celebrating 100 years of flight with an appearance from all three military services and top display teams.

The Utterly Butterly wing-walking team will be sending four of its special bi-planes and flying all of them in formation.

Denny Dobson will attempt a "triple knife edge ribbon cut" - a 250mph stunt performed only a foot from the ground.

Other highlights include ground displays, helicopter rides, classic cars and a funfair.

Tickets for the air show, which runs on August 30 and 31, cost £10 for adults and £5 for children in advance on 01273 734123, £14 and £7 on the gate.