A PLANNED mass balloon extravaganza to launch Southampton's balloon and flower festival was scrapped this morning.

Organisers had planned to light up the morning sky across the city by flying up to nine huge balloons to mark the start of the annual event on Southampton Common.

However, the attempt was aborted because the breeze was blowing in the wrong direction and would have taken the balloons towards the English Channel.

Instead the balloonists tethered their craft to the ground and allowed them to rise a short distance above the Common in front of a crowd of about 60 people.

Ballonist Christian Brown, with the Halls Soothers balloon from Bristol, said: "We could fly but it looks like we would miss the Isle of Wight. We fly at dawn or dusk because the air is at its stillest for a non-directional craft.''

However, he added that another planned mass launch this evening was likely to go ahead.

More than 150,000 people are expected to attend the Southampton Balloon and Flower Festival.

The event, the South's largest free outdoor event of its kind, will feature mass balloon lift-offs at 6am and 6pm each day from more than 40 hot air balloons, weather permitting.

Tomorrow and on Sunday, Southampton Common will be given over for the annual show, which has been running for the past 18 years.

In addition, to the plethora of balloons, blooms and activities, the central element for this year's event is the Festival of Diversity to mark the European Year of Disabled People.

Among the attractions taking place on the ground include marquees, motorbike displays, horses, birds of prey, sheep dog displays and a balloon night glow.

On Sunday afternoon a grand floral sale will be held to round off the floral and horticultural show.

If the weather becomes too hot, youngsters will be able to cool off at the Common's fun pool.