Skip to content

Hot air balloons: Bristol fan saves special balloon shapes from retirement

A 22-year-old, hot-air-balloon enthusiast is on a mission to save "well-loved special shaped" hot air balloons from retirement.

Matt Joyce from Bristol has attended the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta since he was three-years-old.

He recently started buying old special shaped balloons with friends so people could continue to enjoy seeing them fly.

Mr Joyce said it often left him "out of pocket".

Video Journalist: Alex Howick

24 August 2022

Hot air ballooning

Explore More

John Darvall sat on the left of a composite image, in a purple studio with a microphone in front of him. On the right is Keir Starmer with grey hair and brown glasses.

PM challenged on West's councils facing bankruptcy

A woman polished a large Gromit statue at the launch of the Gromit Unleashed 3 trail in Bristol. The statue has a multicoloured sparkly pattern. The woman is wearing a red and white shirt and a black dress over the top and she has red hair cut in a bob style

Aardman unveils new Wallace and Gromit trail

Emma, who has blonde hair and is wearing a black top, is sitting in front of a purple screen

MAFS' Emma shares her thoughts on dating Nathan

Riley Tolliver being arrested

Watch: Moment men are arrested after fatal stabbing

Timothy West. He is pictured looking up and away from the camera.

Late actor had strong connections to West Country

Luna pictured in her buzz lightyear suit. She is looking directly at the cameral and is also wearing a red lanyard around her neck.

Buzz Lightyear fan raises £1k for food bank

Bristol Rovers player launches mental health walk

Payne's death a 'shock' says former pier manager

A singer singing into a microphone wearing a glittery headpiece which covers their face.

'I don't want my face as part of my music process'

A woman doing acrobatics above a toy horse

'We turned city's empty spaces into playgrounds'

Henry performing a BMX stunt

BMX rider, 8, could soon be crowned world champion

The Bristol Brabazon

The luxury plane that took flight 75 years ago

Zombie knife

Watch: Police chase zombie knife suspects in Bristol

A man proposes to his partner while Joe Sims interviews them for BBC Radio Bristol

Couple get engaged at Bristol Balloon Fiesta

Hot air balloons light up their burners in the dark at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta

Night glow lights up dark skies at balloon fiesta

A man stands against a green door shutter. He is wearing a dark jacket and red cap

'Bristolians will not allow chaos'

A woman in a blue top looks at the camera as she sits in her kitchen

'I'm just glad everybody's safe'

Centenaria Hilda Leggett sitting in an amrchair in front of a pink birthday cake in the shape of the numbers 110

'Strong-willed' woman celebrates 110th birthday

Dan Johnson

Route taken by man who dumped bodies on Bristol bridge

Man looking at political leaflets on a kitchen side

The unusual election leaflets being sent to voters

Darren Hicks, the school's assistant headteacher

'Play day is about children being free'

Pupils at a school in Bristol have been enjoying their annual play day.

Bristol singing choir

'I'm a sea of emotions when I sing with others'

Researchers and 400 volunteers are experimenting to see if singing can improve people's wellbeing.

Pupils celebrate winning award

School delighted to be named in world top 10 list

Venturers' Academy in Bristol has been honoured for its work in overcoming adversity.

The tree covered in webbing

Why is there mysterious webbing on trees in a park?

The webbing can be found on trees in St George's park in Bristol.

Flowers in a polytunnel

The city flower farm that is changing lives

Heart of BS13 Flowers is a social enterprise based at Hartcliffe City Farm in Bristol.

Mr Justice Saini

'A plague of knife crime' - Judge jails teenager

Shane Cunningham is jailed for life after stabbing Mikey Roynon to death with a zombie knife.

Upfest Bus

City bus transformed by street artist

A street art festival teams up with a bus company to create the unique, colourful vehicle.

Keyframe #1

Breaking barriers: The rise of women's weightlifting

From improved mental health to enhanced confidence, women are reaping the benefits of weightlifting.

A green laser shining amongst others lights on the ground

Footage shows laser being shone at plane

A Somerset man is jailed for four months for endangering the passenger plane as it came in to land.

Fire at warehouse

Plumes of smoke as fire breaks out at warehouse

Firefighters are tackling a blaze at Boundary Road in Avonmouth, Bristol.

A man in a waistcoat and shirt stands behind the counter in a small tailoring shop

Italian tailor's 'heart crying' as he retires at 88

Tarcisio Paniccia has run Michael's Tailoring since 1969 after moving to Bristol from Italy.

An old train

50 years of Avon Valley Railway

In 1972 volunteers got together to try and re-open the railway and by 1974 trains started running again.

Two women smiling at the camera

Cathedral celebrates multiple faiths at Grand Iftar

The Grand Iftar started in Bristol in 2017 as a way of promoting peace and unity.

Mother

Life is 'hell on earth without my missing son'

The parents of missing Jack O'Sullivan say they are living in "hell on earth" without him.

Underneath Bristol's Corn Exchange is a World War Two bunker that few people know about. It takes visitors back to the German air raids of 1940 that destroyed much of the city.

The World War Two bunker beneath Bristol city centre

The bunker has been "frozen in time" and takes visitors back to the air raids of 1940.

A woman hitting a punching bag

First all-women boxing gym in south west opens

The Bristol Girls Boxing Club is staffed by, and run for, women who want to spread the sport wider.

Dom Whiting on a bike surrounded by cheering people

Thousands join Drum and Bass bike ride

A huge crowd of cyclists brought Bristol to a standstill for the Drum and Bass bike ride

A woman with a bob in a pink beret standing in a clothes shop

Independent superstore inspires other cities

Sparks houses 27 independent businesses in Bristol's former Marks and Spencer store.

Keyframe #9

School investigating crush that injured students

Some pupils were hurt after a gate was not opened which led to a "surge".

Railway departure boards on a table

'I build railway departure boards at home'

Russell Pirie was inspired to build the realistic boards when he commuted regularly for work.