Inside a hot air balloon envelope during inflation at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

© Simon Balson/Alam

Full of hot air in Bristol

All eyes will be on the skies in Bristol over the next few days, with Europe's largest annual meeting of hot air balloons taking place at Ashton Court Estate in South West England. Now in its 40th year, the event attracts hundreds of thousands of people and features over 130 colourful balloons of all shapes and sizes. Last year there was a six-metre-high Minion floating through the clouds, while other larger-than-life characters have included Thomas the Tank Engine, Rupert the Bear and Bertie Bassett, who is returning for the 40th anniversary of the festival after a 15-year absence. There will be ‘all sorts’ of balloons to watch out for, then. (Sorry, we couldn’t resist.)