TWO students from Tavistock College found themselves both taking part in a successful world record attempt this summer.

Robert Painter from Mary Tavy and Dan Leek from Tavistock, both 14, bumped into each other while coincidently attending the second largest hot air balloon festival in the world, at Chambley in France.

The Painter family are experienced balloonists who regularly take part in the Tavistock Balloon Fiesta.

Sue Painter, Robert's mother, said by the Friday evening of the week-long festival, more than 500 balloon pilots from all over the world had arrived at the event.

She said: 'This makes every launch a real spectacle with hundreds of balloons taking to the skies each morning and evening.

'The highlight of the week for everyone is the world record attempt for the longest straight line of hot air balloons, inflated and ready to take off at the same time.'

Sue said Robert, who has been ballooning since he was a very young child, took part in the successful world record attempt two years ago when an amazing 329 were counted.

She said: 'It seemed an impossible task to beat this especially as poor weather on the Sunday meant the attempt had to be postponed.

'Everyone had to wait until July 27 when the weather was finally favourable and the line formed up very early in the morning using both sides of the runway at the Chambley airfield.

'Robert with the Knowledge Pool team and Dan with the Dreamweaver team found themselves in an amazing line of many coloured balloons as the attempt to beat the record started.

'All the balloons were asked to inflate at the same time and it was  a stunning sight to see an endless line of balloons all sat upright.

'The pilots take off in line as the launch car goes past as a safety measure.'

Sue said no-one knew if enough balloons had been inflated until later on in the day, as the count had to made and verified.

'At the pilots' briefing that evening a loud cheer went up when the new world record was announced at 343 balloons.'