BURNLEY'S Balloon Festival was today grounded after winds played havoc with plans for a mass balloon launch at dawn.

But organisers were still hoping the festival would be the biggest yet.

The event at Towneley Park is now in its third year and is the largest event of its kind in the North West.

The two-day festival has a number of attractions this year, including the only professional wing walking team in Europe who are due to demonstrate their skills at 2.30pm tomorrow.

Other events include the popular night glow tonight, where balloons fire up their burners to choreographed music while fireworks shoot up into the sky. Event director, Karin Wilson, said the festival was an opportunity for the town to show the rest of the country what it is capable of.

She said: "The event will be bigger and more spectacular than last year.

"This is a real opportunity for Burnley to showcase itself, proving we have a lot to offer to the whole of the UK."

Entrance to the festival is £2.50 for adults and free for children. Parking is also free.

Today's schedule had been due to start with a mass launch at 6.30am but it had to be cancelled because winds were too strong for the balloons.

However other events planned included: 11am to 12.30pm balloon tethering; 12.45pm falconry display; 1.30pm Xtreme Trials display team; 3pm falconry display; 4pm to 6pm balloon tethering; 6pm mass balloon launch; 9.30pm night glow and firework spectacular.

Tomorrow's schedule is: 6.30am mass launch; 11am to 12.30pm balloon tethering; 12.45pm falconry display;1.30pm Xtreme Trials display team; 2.30pm Utterly Butterly Wingwalking Team; 3pm falconry display; 4pm to 6pm balloon tethering; 6pm mass launch.