ORGANISERS of County Durham's first ever hot air balloon festival are really hoping the event will take off this weekend.

Durham City is hosting the four day event, which will see early morning and evening launches, a display of illuminated balloons and the chance for people to go for a flight.

It starts on Friday evening with a mass balloon launch from East Durham College's Houghall Campus with further events planned for the bank holiday weekend.

Adam Deathe, business engagement manager for Durham Business Improvement District, which is organising the festival, said: "There’s a lot of buzz across the region as Balloons InDurham prepares to make its debut across Durham City. The final details are now confirmed and we’re looking forward to welcoming people from near and far to experience this must-see event.

“The hotels across the city centre are already at capacity having been booked up by the balloonists and their families, not to mention the people travelling from all over the UK to come to Durham specifically for Balloons InDurham and the penultimate leg of the Cycle Tour.

"It’s quite literally going to be a jam-packed weekend and is a real opportunity to put Durham on the map, encouraging people into the city specifically for this Spring Bank Holiday weekend and to make return visits thereafter for many years to come.”

There will be six mass launches between Friday evening and Monday morning, with three morning events all taking place between 6.30am and 7.30am and evening ones between 6.30pm and 7.30pm.

During the day there will be tethered balloons at Houghall College and on Palace Green, outside Durham Cathedral.

The highlight of the festival will be a "balloon glow" between 9.30pm and 10.15pm on Saturday, when they will be illuminated as they float above Houghall College.

There will also be a display of illuminated tethered balloons on Palace Green on Sunday evening, between 8.30pm and 10pm.

Producer Scott Hillary of AH Events, said: “Working with Durham BID, we have a fantastic weekend of family fun and entertainment lined up. However, it is important to stress that all elements of the programme are subject to weather conditions.

"If it’s raining or winds pick up, it’s not safe for the hot air balloons to inflate or fly. That would mean that the balloon tethers, balloon glow and illuminated tethers would have to cancelled."

Changes to the timetable will be available from www.durhambid.co.uk/balloons