Hot air balloon crash-lands on Bath city centre road
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A hot air balloon was forced to crash land on a Bath city centre road after there wasn't enough wind for it to gain altitude.
The Bath Building Society balloon carried 16 people in a trip over the city for two and a half hours, but got into trouble when it couldn't gain enough height.
Richard Morris, 29, bought his girlfriend, Lisa Camper, 31, a ride on the balloon for a Christmas for £150.
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She told the Telegraph: "The balloon goes wherever the wind takes it but there was hardly any breeze so we reached 4,000ft and stayed circling Bath for two-and-a-half hours.
"Towards the end of the flight the pilot, called Mike, said he was going to take us down and he tried to find a piece of grass to land on.
"Every time we approached a park or recreation ground a tiny gust of wind would knock us off course and as we descended Mike said we might have to land on a road.
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"He was totally chilled and professional. He radioed the police to ask for assistance and asked them to close roads if necessary.
"When we came into land I think we hit a tree and a road sign which probably softened the landing.
"When we touched down we all cheered. No one was panicking and the police grabbed the basket to stop it dragging or blowing away and we all got out."
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Around 20 officers from Avon and Somerset police attended the scene, and photographer Stuart Woodward managed to get the snaps.
He said: "It went over the Wells Road then back over again after narrowly missing rooftops and trees.
"Then it went over the river, only eight feet above a building, and the pilot skilfully landed on the grass bank just over the river - by the coach park.
"It ripped the balloon when I think it caught on a tree.
"How it didn't hit any rooves I don't know. Police and ambulance attended, but there were no injuries - it was an amazing landing."
A spokesman for the police said there would not be an investigation.
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