After windy weather conditions prevented the first mass launch of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta on Thursday, the Fiesta took off in fine style.
The four-day spectacle will see more than 100 hot balloons take to the skies after the Covid pandemic, which halted celebrations for two years.
The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2022 sees hot air balloons take off (Ben Birchall/PA).PA Wire/PA Images – Ben Birchall
A balloon is prepared to fly at Ashton Court Bristol (Ben Birchall/PA).PA Wire/PA Images – Ben Birchall
Equipment is tested before mass launch (Ben Birchall/PA).PA Wire/PA Images – Ben Birchall
A balloon flys over fields that are brown from prolonged periods of dry weather (Ben Birchall/PA).PA Wire/PA Images – Ben Birchall
It is anticipated that more than 100 balloons will fly above the Bristol area during the fiesta (Ben Birchall/PA).PA Wire/PA Images – Ben Birchall
An extravagantly-designed hot air balloon takes off (Ben Birchall/PA)PA Wire/PA Images – Ben Birchall
The Royal Navy’s hot air balloon (Ben Birchall/PA)PA Wire/PA Images – Ben Birchall
Balloons against the early morning Bristol skyline. (Ben Birchall/PA).PA Wire/PA Images – Ben Birchall
Ready for takeoff (Ben Birchall/PA).PA Wire/PA Images – Ben Birchall
A balloon casts a shadow over a farmer’s field (Ben Birchall/PA)PA Wire/PA Images – Ben Birchall