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Thousands attend balloon festival night launch

Andy GiddingsWest Midlands
Telford and Wrekin Council Six brightly coloured hot air balloons illuminated at night with a large crowd of people in the foregroundTelford and Wrekin Council
Friday's Night Glow was a ticketed event

Thousands of people turned out for a night launch ahead of Telford's Balloon Festival this weekend.

The Night Glow event in Telford town park also included live music and activities for families, including an appearance by Mr Motivator.

More entertainment is planned around the QEII Arena on Saturday and Sunday, although a jump by the Wings Parachute Display Team had to be called off on Saturday, because of the wet weather.

There were due to be more balloon launches on Saturday and Sunday but Saturday night's launch had to be called off because of the weather. Five large green alien balloons were inflated and went on show to the public, tethered to the ground.

Friday's Night Glow was a ticketed event, but the festival is free to enter on Saturday and Sunday.

Last year 50,000 people attended and this year the festival will be open from 12:00 BST until 19:00 BST on both days.

A large crowd of people at night looking at a fenced off area of grass with a hot air balloon and flames shooting into the sky
Large crowds turned out for the Friday night launch event
Five brightly coloured hot air balloons illuminated at night with a large crowd of people in the foreground

Saturday was due to feature a stunt display team, tethered balloon demonstrations, more live music, circus workshops and stalls.

On Sunday the parachute display team was due to return.

Telford and Wrekin Council A red and white hot air balloon in the dawn sky with a number of other balloons on the groundTelford and Wrekin Council
Saturday morning saw the first of two planned dawn-launches

Telford and Wrekin Council said it hoped everything would go ahead as planned on Sunday.

It also said the Wings Parachute Display Team hoped to carry out two jumps on Sunday, to make up for the one missed on Saturday.

Telford and Wrekin Council Five large green hot air balloons resembling aliens, tethered to the ground in a park with a gathering of people in the foregroundTelford and Wrekin Council
Five large alien balloons were inflated on Saturday evening, but were unable to go up
A large red illuminated heart at night time with a crowd of people surrounding it
Last year 50,000 people attended the three-day festival

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