Hot air balloons take to the sky over Bristol for four-day fiesta

  • Bristol
Hot air balloons fly over Bristol Credit: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

Colourful hot air balloons filled the sky above Bristol this morning as part of a four-day festival in honour of the aircraft. See video and more pictures on the ITV West website.

The colourful fleet of balloons ascended from Grenville Park in Bristol for an hour-long flight to mark the start of 34th year of the fiesta.

A perfect view of Bristol's skyline Credit: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

Today's flight was a curtain-raiser for the main four-day event - the Bristol International** **Balloon Fiesta - which takes place between August 9 and 12.

Hot air balloons fly over the river Avon in Bristol Credit: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

Chris Hathaway, the chairman of the organising committee, promised an "unforgettable weekend" including "some great night glows, huge mass ascents and a new aerobatics display on the Sunday".

Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge can be seen behind this hot air balloon Credit: Ben Birchall/PA Wire