HISTORY is due to be made in Okehampton?s Simmons Park this weekend as it stages the first ever balloon festival to take place in the town.

Organisers are keeping their fingers cross for calm weather, to enable up to a dozen hot air balloons to be launched on Saturday and Sunday.

Lift off is scheduled for 7am on Saturday ? and Okehampton balloonist Geoff Davis is forecasting a stunning sight.

?Simmons Park is absolutely ideal if the winds are coming from the right direction,? he said.

?It?s a super little park, it?s an ideal launch site and the public will be able to get a great view of the balloons.

?It will be the first time anyone has ever flown a hot air balloon from there, so it?s a real first.

?I think it takes people by surprise when they see it for the first time. You get the sounds, the smell of the gas, the noise ? it?s a real spectacle,? said Geoff, who urged people to come down to the park to enjoy the sights.

Further flights are planned for 7pm on Saturday and 7am on Sunday. There may also be inflated balloons tethered in the park during the day, weather permitting.

The event will raise money for Okehampton St John Ambulance Brigade, which is trying to purchase a new ambulance.

In addition to the balloons there will be a car boot sale during the morning, musical entertainment, a bouncy castle and a wide variety of stalls staged by primary schools, Okehampton Air Cadets and many others.

Cllr Christine Marsh, mayor of l Continued from page 1

Okehampton and chairman of Okehampton St John, said: ?I think it will be a fine day out for everyone ? it?s going to be great.?

The St John Ambulance Brigade is her chosen charity for the year ? she said there is still some space left for any individuals or organisations who wish to come and set up a stall.

Also taking place in and around Simmons Park is Okehampton?s Festival of Sport, during which sports of all types can be played and watched.

On Saturday, there will be fun tennis sessions at the all-weather pitch for youngsters during the morning, teenagers and adults during the afternoon.

A fishing competition takes place at Highampton during the day and there will be squash taster sessions at Okehampton Squash Club between 10.30am and 12.30pm for youngsters aged ten to 16.

On ?Super Sporting Sunday?, there is a five-a-side football competition at Okehampton College, a hockey tournament at the all-weather pitch, football coaching for youngsters at the college, a putting competition at the putting green and a fencing taster session, also at the college.

Organiser Stuart Lord of OCRA said: ?We?ve got a full allocation of teams for the hockey and football tournament which is great.

?I think Sunday?s going to be a really good day ? and the uptake and interest in the variety of sports throughout the week has been very positive.?