Balloon stopped from taking off but winners' meal goes down a treat

They didn't get to enjoy the heights of cuisine in every sense of the word.

But a couple of competition winners were still treated to the tiniest of balloon rides following an al fresco meal enjoyed in front of Bath's Royal Crescent.

The treat was for disabled flying enthusiast Emrys Harries and his wife Bunny, and was laid on by champagne firm G H Mumm.

The idea had been for the couple to be served dinner by celebrated chef Adam Byatt in the basket of the firm's hot-air balloon being piloted by adventurer David Hempleman-Adams over the city.

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But weather conditions prevented a take-off, meaning the couple from Hampshire had to content themselves with a tethered hover once they had been served with a three-course meal by Mr Byatt, who owns two restaurants in London, the Trinity and Bistro Union.

Mr Harries, who is secretary of the disabled flying charity Aerobility, which took part in the Paralympics opening ceremony, will get his full flight at another time.

Mr Hempleman-Adams, a founding member of Mumm's Cordon Rouge Club, lives in Box.

The balloon was launched in 2005 when he piloted it to a record-breaking 25,000ft, where adventurer Bear Grylls and Lt Cdr Alan Veal enjoyed the highest-ever formal dinner party before skydiving back to earth.

The Harries were the winners of a gastronomic competition in Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury's stores.