Farm crisis deflates balloon fiesta

Flights at Bristol balloon fiesta are being restricted

Flights are being restricted from Britain's biggest balloon festival because of foot-and-mouth disease.

But organisers of this weekend's Bristol International Balloon Fiesta decided not to ban flights altogether after ordering an independent risk assessment.

Only about 30 balloons will be able to take off over the city at any one time - compared with a European record of 132 last year.

But the operators of the famous Michelin Man balloon, a favourite figure at past events, have pulled out because of the disease.

The Michelin Man will be absent

The Aerial Display Company, which flies the balloon on behalf of Michelin, said farms could be put at risk.

Spokesman Peter Mason told BBC Bristol Online: "If there is any kind of incident, then the balloons participating in the fiesta would all be lumped together.

"Rather than involve my client in any kind of dispute or problem, I thought it was better just to withdraw from the event and watch from the sidelines."

About 100 balloons are expected to be on display in the main arena on the Ashton Court estate, near the spectacular Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Pop group Hear'Say is among festival performers

Those that are not cleared for "free flight" during the four-day event, which ends on Sunday, will be able to take off with ropes anchoring them to the ground.

During the early stages of the foot-and-mouth crisis in Britain, pilots were warned that if they landed on farms, their balloons would be burned.

A fiesta spokesman said farmers' organisations, including the National Farmers' Union, had supported restricted flying this weekend.

Muir Moffat, the fiesta chairman, said: "We need to balance carefully the interests of a wide range of communities which are involved in the Fiesta, such as balloonists, exhibitors and the general public.

A "nightglow" and fireworks display rounds off Thursday's concert

"We will decide exactly how many balloons will fly in the light of weather conditions at the time, in particular wind speed and direction."

The tethered balloons provide a colourful backdrop to a seven-hour concert of chart-topping bands.

Performers include Hear'Say, Steps, Emma Bunton and Atomic Kitten on Thursday 9 August.

Twenty five choreographed balloons will fire their burners in time to the music.

Other balloon lifts are scheduled for the normal times of 0600BST and 1800BST on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Among those attending the event will be the explorer David Hempleman-Adams, who is planning an attempt to fly a balloon over Everest.

BBC Bristol Online is staging live webcasts from the fiesta.