Hot air balloon collides with lamppost

Video courtesy of Aaron Hanks. Traffic came to a standstill when a huge Dragon-shaped hot air balloon landed with a bump just metres from a road and collided with a lamppost. The colourful balloon was one of more than 100 taking part in the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta this weekend. The fun-shaped canopy got into difficulty after a flight of around eight miles from Bristol's Ashton Court on Thursday evening. Motorists screeched to a halt as the balloon rapidly descended at Bridgeyate in South Gloucestershire. Local Aaron Hanks was filming the other balloons when he spotted the dragon descending quickly. His film shows the balloon hit the lamppost, then a tree, before sinking beside the pole and coming to a stop near the road. Half a million people are expected to flock to the city for the annual spectacular, now in its 36th year. The four day festival runs until Sunday.