Update: Police involved following Red Arrows disappointment

Spen police have started an investigation following an event last weekend which the Red Arrows were advertised to attend.
MOTOR EVENT Organiser Daniel Peel.MOTOR EVENT Organiser Daniel Peel.
MOTOR EVENT Organiser Daniel Peel.

The team was billed to be performing a flypast at a Help for Heroes event, which took place on Sunday in Heckmondwike.

Hundreds of people turned up to see the famed pilots perform – but they were left disappointed when they failed to appear.

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Sgt Andrew Bentley said: “Police have spoken to all parties involved and are looking into the matter.”
Earlier today the Royal Air Force said its Red Arrows aerobatic team never received a request to fly over Heckmondwike on Sunday.

Red Arrows spokesman Andrew Morton said: “The Red Arrows were never tasked with performing a fly past at Sunday’s event. No request was received.”

The event was organised by Race Tec Motorcycle and Performance Recovery.

Daniel Peel, from Race Tec, said £1,084 has been raised for Help for Heroes.

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He apologised for the disappointment, and said he contacted the Royal Air Force Association (RAFA) and received a letter stating the Red Arrows would fly over.

But Mr Morton said: “It’s not from us.”

A Help for Heroes spokeswoman confirmed the event had been registered with the charity before taking place.

The event was organised by Mr Peel in a field donated by Ponderosa owner Howard Cook.

Mr Cook said he had been inundated with complaints from angry visitors – however their only involvement had been providing the land free of charge so the event could go ahead.

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He said: “We gave them the field because it was for charity.

“People are saying it’s Ponderosa’s fault but we had nothing to do with organising it. We just wanted to hep them raise money for charity.”

• We are awaiting a comment from RAFA.

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