A rare fiesta including the most Virgin balloons ever to fly together in the UK created a superb spectacle in the West Country sky.

Nine pilots, 30 balloon crew, 144 passengers and crowds of excited spectators came together to make the event in Bath on September 1 a great success.

The massive red Virgin balloons, flown by the company’s pilots from all over the UK, and the Roman Baths balloon, took of from the picturesque Royal Crescent in the city centre between 6.30pm and 7.30pm.

Wind conditions on the evening meant that the balloons had to go up in pairs rather than all at once meaning a planned ‘hare and hounds’ event, in which local pilot Mark Simmons had promised a basket full of beer to the winner, couldn’t take place.

But Mark, who is known as Nobby and lives in Atworth, said it had still been a fantastic event and great to see so many of the balloons from the sizeable Virgin fleet in one place. The last time so many Virgin balloons flew together was in Cuneo, northern Italy, in 2005.

He said: “The whole event was a lot of fun. All the passengers enjoyed themselves and that’s the main thing.

“We couldn’t all take off at once which was a little disappointing but the wind just wasn’t playing ball. We all took off at different times in the end so it was impossible to pick a winner.

“I landed in a field next to my friend Martin Collinson, who flies in Derbyshire, so I will probably give the beer to him.”

Mark, who usually does champagne balloon flights from launch sites around the region including Royal Victoria Park, thanked Bath & North East Somerset Council for giving permission for the event.

He said: “It was great to have the opportunity to take off from the Crescent Lawn. There are rarely so many balloons there at once. Quite a few people turned out to support us which was encouraging.”

Carla Lawrence, who was traveling on board the balloon flown by Martin, said: “I have always wanted to go in a hot air balloon and Bath is simply a fantastic place to do it.

“Being able to see the Royal Crescent and the Circus from the sky was beautiful.”