Hot air balloon festival wows Isle of Wight crowds

  • Published
A hot air balloon having heat poured into itImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

One balloonist gets ready to fly away

Hot air balloons have wowed visitors to a sold-out festival on the Isle of Wight.

The balloons took off from Robin Hill Country Park near Newport as part of a three-day event which closes on Monday.

Pictures show spectators and residents waving balloons off as they soared into the sky.

Along with the balloons, fireworks displays and live music have been performed at part of this year's festival.

A lion balloon reflected in waterImage source, Exclusive Ballooning
Image caption,

More than 4,000 visitors a day were expected at the festival

A fox hot air balloonImage source, Exclusive Ballooning
Image caption,

The festival has been organised by the country park and specialists Exclusive Ballooning

Tethered balloons light their burners during nightglow and firework displaysImage source, Exclusive Ballooning
Image caption,

Tethered balloons light their burners during nightglow and firework displays

Hot air being poured into the hot balloonImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

One of the balloons preparing to take off

People waving at a hot air balloon taking off at the festivalImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

Balloonists and spectators waving to each other as a balloon flies up into the sky

A man walking inside a deflated hot air balloonImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

Another balloonist inspects the inside of one of the hot air balloons

Sheep balloon flying off at the festivalImage source, Exclusive Ballooning
Image caption,

The balloons come in all shapes

Presentational grey line

Follow BBC South on Facebook, external, Twitter, external, or Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk, external.

All pictures are subject to copyright.