Shropshire balloon enthusiast at helm of flying dragon for festival

A Shropshire hot air balloonist today took to the skies in Briton's largest flying dragons called Slick.

Chris Sanger-Davies, of Oswestry hot-air balloon firm Lindstrand, was at the launch of Bristol's International Balloon Fiesta.

He has been ballooning for around 28 years and has been flying balloons at the fiesta for over 10 years.

He said: "It's one of those nice places to fly and everybody comes back.

"It's the big event in the UK and it's great to meet the pilots from all over the world."

Slick carries 120,000 cubic feet of hot air and is the only hot-air balloon with a glass bottom in Europe.

Speaking of his love of flying, Mr Sanger-Davies said: "It's almost indescribable. It's like floating on water or walking on water I suppose. We always land in a different place every time. It's just a bug you get, a way of life."

Today's flight, which took place in sight of Brunel's Clifton suspension bridge, was the curtain-raiser to the main four-day event between August 9 and 12.

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

The balloons, which drifted over the city at around 7am, were spotted by early risers and commuters on their way to work, with many running out of their houses to take pictures.

Bristol's fiesta attracts half a million visitors every year.