The Red Arrows will (probably) fly at the 2012 Olympics, the Sun has announced.

The redtop has received a letter from Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell, stating: "I am very clear in my own mind that the Red Arrows should be part of London’s welcome to the world in 2012 and I know Seb Coe shares my view."

Jowell added: "I want to take this opportunity to set the record straight: the Red Arrows never were banned from 2012" - a reference to the shock announcement the flyboys would not grace the skies above London during the sportsfest for being "too British".

This shock and entirely bogus story quickly provoked an online petition in which outraged Brits demanded a government step-down. As of mid-October, it had attracted 165,000 signatures, although the public is evidently not aware that the RAF's finest were never off the Olympic menu, since the total has now risen to 207,000.

We should note that ministers have not finalised details for the 2012 opening ceremony, but Jowell and Coe are "determined the Red Arrows will play a role". ®

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