ALL Carl Robertshaw could dream of as a child was making and flying kites.

“It is a bit like crossing the Red Arrows with ice skating, flying kites, ” said the North-West born five times world kite flying champion, ahead of his appearance at next week’s St Annes International Kite Festival.

“I was given an old sewing machine as a teenager and, immediately, I was fascinated by the mechanism and I created my first kite using that,” he said. “It became an obsession and now it is my life.”

St Annes Kite Festival has grown from humble beginnings to a festival of international status, last year attracting 70,000 spectators to the Fylde Coast for the three-day jamboree, this year from August 31 to September 2.

Kite flyers from all over the world compete for honours and Robertshaw, one of the world’s finest kite flyers, will be sure to provide one of the star attractions on the sands of St Annes.

“I’m fascinated by opposites and contradictions – an object that appeared to have a great mass, yet floats on air,” he said.

“That has a real attraction for me because of the science involved.

“And one of the most exciting things is that I’m able to work with so many inspiring people, like the St Annes International Kite Festival team.

“It is a great venue on the other side of the pier, a lot more intimate than other festivals, and the sound is good.

“I’d definitely say it is the one that professional flyers around the world look forward to as one of the most important meets of the year.”

However, it is for his outstanding ability as a production designer, creating intricate props and costume design for rock concerts, film and TV, that he has become equally well known for when he is not flying his kites to the sonic sound of Rage Against the Machine or Massive Attack.

Six years ago he memorably worked with film producer Danny Boyle as his consultant, invited to direct and choreograph part of the opening and closing ceremonies at the London 2012 Olympics.

“It was only a small role, but when you’re sat across the table from Danny Boyle, talking through those ideas with a guy who had directed Trainspotting, then it is very special thing indeed,” he said.

“To be involved in the staging of the Olympics in my own country was an incredible privilege.”

Robertshaw also assisted in the design of the American Superbowl 50 half-time show, headlined by Coldplay and Beyonce and helped build the fire-breathing dragon in the Lord of the Rings film.

The American broadcaster CBS claimed the Superbowl Final between Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers was the most watched broadcast in American history with 111 million viewers tuning in.

“I designed paper umbrellas and flags for Superbowl 50, and I was on the pitch at half time, so that was an incredible moment too,” he said.

And he predicts that the sixth St Annes International Kite Festival could break all records this year.

He said: “It was intense, beautiful and wonderful last time, and we were all inspired by each other.

“And it is going to be even bigger this time.

“As a child I was fascinated by the way I could control an object that was hundreds of yards away, zipping and weaving in the bright blue sky above.

“That was the magic and that magic still exists.”

Other attractions at the festival include a Friday Night Fly, kite workshops and a firework display.

St Annes International Kite Festival, Friday, August 31 to Sunday, September 2. Details from www.stanneskitefestival.co.uk