Woman wins award at balloon twisting event

Midlands Today presenter Nick Owen with a balloon version of himself, created by Layla Glen

A balloon modeller who was taught the basics when she worked at a fast food restaurant as a teenager has won an award at a national event.

Layla Glen from Redditch competed at the Blackpool Balloon Bash, which is described as the UK's biggest balloon twisting event.

All the competitors were given a random bag of balloons to create something with, Ms Glen said, and she won second prize for a balloon version of Elvis Presley.

She learnt to balloon model at McDonalds aged 16, and picked the craft up again when her husband bought her a balloon themed gift for her 40th birthday.

Balloon creations can cost up to £300 depending on the size and complexity

"He always buys me random things, and bought a me an online balloon diploma thing," said Ms Glen, who found it "really easy" to complete, and realised how far the balloon world had come along since she was teenager.

She now runs her own creative arts and bespoke balloon modelling business, and said she loved copying from photographs.

The Balloon Bash in Blackpool is the UK's biggest event for balloon artists and people travel from all over the world to compete, Ms Glen said.

In the competition she took second prize in, artists were given balloons of all shapes, sizes and colours, and all the balloons had to be included in the final creation.

Layla Glen and her balloon version of Peter Andre

Bespoke balloon models can cost between £25 and £300 depending on the size and detail required, said Ms Glen.

And transporting life-sized balloon versions of people can attract some "funny looks and lots of smiles," she said, as she straps them into the passenger seat of her car.