A HOT air balloon made a surprise landing on a cycle path through a York park this morning.
The balloon touched down on the path in Rawcliffe, near the Lysander Arms, just as children were heading to school in the area.
Passerby Simon Marshall captured these images as his daughter cycled along the path, saying that no one was hurt but the event was "well talked about".
Pilot Oliver Webb been in touch to explain that the balloon was becalmed over Clifton Moor, and so making a controlled landing in the park at Rawcliffe was the best option.
Oliver explained that as a registered aircraft, his balloon can land in built up areas if it is "becalmed" - or unable to move because of a lack of wind.
The three-man balloon took off from York Racecourse at 7.25am today, and an hour later found itself struggling for wind over Clifton Moor.
The Munchies hot air balloon taking off from York Knavesmire
Oliver added: "The maps we use when ballooning show 'senstive areas' where farmers have told us they don't want balloons to land.
"I could see there as a big area on the other side of the ring road marked as a 'sensitive area', and we obviously didn't want to land anywhere near the ring road, so the park was the best option.
"It was entirely controlled and safe."
Just in case anyone was worried about the falling balloon over @snayorknorth area .Every 1 is fine @minsterfm pic.twitter.com/oVjacdH7fk
— 5458_Jackson (@Pcso_5458) April 21, 2016
With families heading to school nearby, the landing caught plenty of people's eyes.
"It attracted a lot of attention, and put smiles on lots of faces. As we were packing the balloon up lots of parents were heading back from the school run. They said it was the talk of the school," Oliver said.
