RESIDENTS of a Durham estate were surprised when a hot air balloon landed in field near their homes today (Tuesday, February 2) – and within yards of the busy East Coast Main Line.

Emergency services were alerted when the craft landed in Canterbury Road, Newton Hall, Durham City, at about 1.20pm. No one was hurt in what turned out to be a controlled landing.

Freelance photographer Duncan Blakemore said: “My attention was alerted to something happening by a fire engine getting close to my home in Peterborough Road.

“I rushed out to to see a fire engine, blue lights and sirens going to the end of the street.

“The firemen jumped out and made their way onto Canterbury Road Field.

“Amazingly, we saw a deflated hot air balloon lying on its side. It landed quite close to the East Coast Railway Line."

He added: “They had the transport vehicle waiting for them and were wrapping up the balloon and loading it up. They all looked in high spirits and were having a a laugh about things."

A County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “The balloon had taken off from Witton Castle (Witton-le-Wear).

“When they go up they normally come down wherever the wind takes them.

"The people in the balloon noticed they were close to Frankland Prison and the railway line and chose to put down where they did, in a large field.

“It was mistaken by a ambulance crew for crashing due to the angle of its approach.

“It was an intentional and not an emergency landing."