A RECORD number of hot air balloons are set to take to the skies at the Cholsey Hot Air Balloon Festival this weekend.

More than 2,000 people are expected to attend the third annual flying extravaganza on the village recreation ground near Wallingford on Saturday afternoon.

The fun all starts when gates open at 4pm, followed by a helicopter flypast at 4.30pm.

Entry is free and beer and barbecue will be available all afternoon alongside other entertainments.

This year's children's helium balloon race will start at 5.30pm, and half an hour later 14 hot air balloons will take off from the field in a synchronised display.

The balloonists will hover over the field for an hour before returning to earth. As night falls at 8pm they will get all fired up for the traditional hot air balloon glow.

The annual event is run by St Mary's Church in Cholsey, particularly church warden-cum-balloonist Michael Wolf.

The festival raises funds for charity, and last year collected £3,000.

This year's good cause is Cholsey-based charity Go MAD (Go Make A Difference), which takes school children on aid missions to Africa.