VIDEO: 433 hot air balloons set new world record - and it’s very pretty

A new world record for the number of hot air balloons launched together at the same time was set in France at the weekend.

And while enthusiasts might marvel at the technical feat in avoiding collisions, for most of us it's just astounding pretty to see four miles of airspace covered in colours.

The balloons were lined up at an airbase in Eastern France ahead of the launch, and included - among many standard balloon designs - a French chateau, a magnum of champagne, and the French comic character Obelix.

Professional travel photographer Bart Lapers took a beautiful video of the launch from the ground, punctuated by the sounds of flaring burners, while French news agency AFP was on hand to capture footage of the launch window from the air.

HT: breakingnews.ie