SUNSHINE is predicted for this weekend?s Westcountry Balloon Fiesta in Tavistock which will see a record number of balloons take to the skies.

For Saturday the Met Office is promising a dry day with sunshine and light winds and a temperature of 18-21 degrees centigrade, bringing a welcome change from the torrential rain and flash floods of the last two weeks.

A record 60 hot air balloons have registered to attend the event which begins on Friday evening with a massed ascent from Crowndale at 6.30pm.

Last year, 150 ascents were recorded over the weekend thanks to near-perfect weather conditions making the Tavistock event the third largest of its kind in the country.

Organised by the Lions Club of Tavistock and Tavistock Round Table, the fiesta is now in its 12th year and has become well known on a national and European level.

There is free entry and plenty of additional entertainment going on Saturday and Sunday, including the popular ?Day at the Races? where young and old dress up in pantomime horse costumes and race around an obstacle course, a comedy magician, ?Let?s Shimmy? dancing group, stalls, sideshows and bungee jumping.

Sunday will see the Far West Tug-o-War championships, which has taken place at the fiesta over the last five years.

The charities to benefit this year will be Breakthrough, which deals with breast cancer, and the BBC Chestnut Appeal for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

Patron of the latter charity and BBC personality Judi Spiers will be officially opening the fiesta on Friday evening before she goes up, up and away in one of the balloons.

Balloons in every shape and size will be taking off early each morning with spectacular nightglows on Friday and Saturday eveings. This will involve balloonists inflating the balloon envelopes and keeping the balloons tethered to the ground, turning the gas burners on and off in time with classical music, making the stars of the show look like huge light bulbs glowing in the dark.

During the daytime even more parachutists than in previous years from the Royal Signals and Royal Artillery will be jumping from high flying balloons, landing back in the main arena.

There will be competitions to win a hot air balloon flight but you can secure an ascent by contacting the booking office on 01404 823102.