A volunteer with Warwickshire Search and Rescue was the first person to visit the new Urban-Air Port in Coventry.

Air One is the world's first fully operational Urban-Air Port for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and is currently open to the public until 15 May.

The zero-emission airport has been backed by Hyundai Motor Group which plans to have commercialised its own flying vehicles by 2028.

Coventry City Council and the UK Government are also supporting it.

Air-One has been developed for the forthcoming 'urban air mobility' revolution which is estimated to be worth almost £1 trillion over the next 20 years as companies and authorities invest in eVTOL aircraft and the infrastructure it requires.

And former firefighter Alison Insley from Kenilworth was the first member of the public to walk through the doors when it opened last week.

Alison Insley was the first person through the doors at the Urban-Air Port opening

"I just happened to be the first person to walk through the doors which was fun," she said.

"It is because I came on the bus. I had a 9am ticket and the bus either got me there at 8.30 or 9.05 and I didn't want to be late and I didn't know quite how it was going to work.

"So I got there at 8.30 and happened to be at the front!"

During the open days punters have been able to see all the elements of the Urban-Air Port , including passenger taxi-processing, logistics and command and control.

Visitors also have the chance to see live flight demonstrations from West Midlands Police's drone team.

"I was interested from an emergency disaster point of view," Alison added.

"Obviously I am not a firefighter any more but I have still got a little bit of interest.

"I have just started with Warwickshire Search and Rescue and obviously they work with the police looking for people. So obviously with all the drones and using thermal imaging I was interested in that."

Air taxis will one day operate from the vertiport port

West Midlands Police said it had been operating drones since 2017 and last year its 46 pilots sent their drones up on 3,450 flights.

And the force added that the showcase would demonstrate to the public how the hub could benefit policing.

Alison said it had been a real eye-opener for her about the powers of the technology.

"Before I went I was very apprehensive about the whole thing, a bit nervous - traffic jams in the sky and all this sort of stuff," she said.

"But when I got in I realised it is not as bad as I first thought.

"The drones were fantastic. It was great to see them go vertically up and down, and how they can zoom in onto number plates and track vehicles is fantastic.

"I think the technology is absolutely fascinating."

For more information, follow this link.