Harvey Nichols to sponsor fiesta

Organisers chose a raffle after failing to attract a main sponsor

Harvey Nichols has been chosen to be the main sponsor of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

About 100 companies bought £2,000 raffle tickets for a chance to win the title, after organisers failed to attract a major sponsor.

A spokesman for the store said: "It's good to be part of something that's at the heart of Bristol."

Applied Technology Systems and Spark Data System will sponsor the night glows on Thursday and Saturday.

Harvey Nichols' staff are delighted at the news

Mutual savings and investments firm National Friendly will sponsor a Red Arrows display.

The four-day event starts on 6 August on the Ashton Court estate.

The fiesta began with just 27 balloons in 1979 and has grown to see in excess of 500,000 spectators descending on the site annually.