Blindfolded man in balloon walk

The tightrope spanned two tethered balloons

A blindfolded airline pilot has walked between two hot air balloons at a height of 4,000 feet.

Mike Howard, from Manchester, carried out what is believed to be the first feat of its kind at the 2004 Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

Mr Howard, 38, the current world record holder of the highest tightrope balloon walk at 18,800 feet, walked along a 19-foot pole in the stunt on Saturday.

He then parachuted to the ground and said the experience was "exhilarating".

Mr Howard said he carried out the stunt as a practice run before attempting to do it again at a record-breaking height of 20,000 feet.

Clifton Suspension Bridge closure Saturday 14 August - 1200 closed until 0900 BST Sunday 15 August

He said: "People think hot air ballooning is pretty but very sedate, we like to show that it can be a bit more exciting."

The need to concentrate on balancing, he said, means he had no time to get nervous during the three minute walk.

"When you are doing it you are concentrating so hard you don't think 'now I'm going to fall'. You have no concept of how long it is taking."

"When you are blindfolded you can't see how high up you are. I just try to imagine I am three feet above the ground."

The next night glow takes place on Saturday

Mr Howard, who learned to hot air balloon at the age of 17 five years before he learned to fly a plane, said the pole "had a bit of a wobble and is very slippery."

The second mass ascent of the fiesta, successfully took place on Saturday, and involved 111 balloons.

Friday evening's take-off was cancelled because of wind conditions, but more than 100 balloons had gone up earlier that day.

Thousands of people will attend the second "glow" event on Saturday evening when tethered balloons light up in time to music followed by fireworks.