Bathampton residents had some unexpected drama when two hot air balloons landed in fields just yards away from their back gardens last night.
The drama began to unfold over the village at around 7pm with the balloons flying low over back gardens of houses along Warminster Road.
Earlier, one had been seen so low over Charlcombe Lane at Swainswick that a resident was able to talk to the passengers.
The Wind Beneath My Wings balloon is believed to have taken off from a maize field near Bath.
The pilot was able to land in the paddock at Bathampton, but attempts to get the balloon airborne again proved fruitless.
The ballooning team regularly takes parts in events such as the Bristol Balloon Fiesta.
A second balloon landed behind the first balloon.
A local resident who asked not to be named said: "The first one landed in a field and the second one landed behind that one.
"The Wind Beneath My Wings balloon tried to take off but it 'hopped' and was too low.
"It (balloons flying over the houses) doesn't bother me. I've been in a hot air balloon and it was fantastic.
"I remember we landed on land behind houses then."
Some houses along the A36 have gardens of more than 150 feet long, meaning the balloon was around 300 feet away from the busy main road.
The field is immediately behind the garden of a retired couple, who were out when the balloon landed.
They were alerted to the drama by a neighbour.
The houses are just yards away from a busy main road.
The good weather and still conditions brought out at least ten balloons over the city last night.
*Do you have any pictures of the balloon landing? Please email p.wiltshire@bathchron.co.uk if you do.
Video thanks to Daniel Brown
