Disease grounds fiesta balloons

One balloonist refused to stay on the ground

The first massed flight from Britain's biggest balloon festival has had to be called off because of foot-and-mouth disease.

But the crisis failed to stop John Collings, of Caerphilly, whisking his girlfriend off the ground to propose marriage.

John, 20, took 18-year-old Naomi Lonney from Cardiff, up in a tethered balloon to pop the question.

She said yes - but organisers of this weekend's Bristol International Balloon Fiesta could not do the same for pilots hoping to fly over the city.

John Collings proposed to Naomi Lonney in mid-air

They had ordered an independent study to ensure balloonists could not risk spreading foot-and-mouth disease by landing on farmland.

About 30 balloons were due to lift off at 0600 BST on Friday.

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta organisers cancelled their flights, despite "lovely" conditions, because the wind would have taken pilots over farmland.

A spokeswoman said: "In normal years we would have flown. It was a very close call to make."

Human pyramid

The balloons were inflated but remained tethered to the ground by anchor ropes.

Several displayed banners in support of British farmers.

Balloonists fired their burners for a fiesta pop concert

One pilot relaxed in a hammock strung between balloons 40 feet off the ground.

The fiesta began on Thursday with a pop concert featuring Atomic Kitten, Steps and Emma Bunton, among other acts. Thousands attended despite the rain.

Flights are scheduled at 0600 and 1800 BST every day until Sunday evening.

Organisers are optimistic that some will go ahead.

BBC Bristol Online is staging live webcasts from the fiesta.