Weather hits balloon event

The weather also stopped Saturday's mass ascent

A daredevil stunt at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta had to be postponed on Saturday because of poor weather.

Skydiver Mike Howard had planned to rise to more than 11,000 feet using 300 helium-filled balloons, to set a world record.

He was going to make his descent by shooting down the balloons.

The event is now due to take place on Sunday morning.

Mike Howard uses a cluster of balloons

Mr Howard, is a British Airways pilot from Timperley, Manchester.

He plans to rise to 3,000 feet with help from a hot air balloon, then go 8,000 feet further using the small balloons.

Saturday morning's mass ascent by balloons was also stopped by the weather.

But visitors were able to view tethered balloons.

On Friday, the globe balloon used as BBC One's presentation symbol made its final official flight at the Bristol festival.

Maiden flight

The balloon used to be screened between programmes on the channel.

The red and yellow globe, built by Camerons in Bristol, is going into the care of the Sussex-based Balloon Preservation Group.

The BBC balloon was filmed near landmarks

The balloon made its maiden flight from the Bristol fiesta site at Ashton Court in 1997 piloted by James Mossman, who also flew it for the BBC filming.

Mr Mossman said many people had not believed the icon was real.

"Even professional cameramen said: 'You mean you actually put that balloon near that castle or near that bridge and that's real?'" he told BBC News Online.

There have been more requests for the globe to appear at fiestas and events than any other balloon.

The BBC balloon is among the favourites on the BBC Bristol website which is screening live reports from the fiesta which ends on Sunday.