Strong winds hampered flights during the sixth annual Oxford Balloon Fiesta -- but failed to stop thousands of people enjoying the event.

Stuntman Jez Avery leaps over a BMW-donated Mini Cooper

There was an international flavour as a record 36 balloons entered this year's show, held in Cutteslowe Park over the weekend. They included a massive Baltika Brewery airship from Russia.

The Balloon Fiesta was part of the city council's Fun in the Parks season of events, sponsored by the Oxford Mail .

Thundery conditions were a problem later on, but the early morning flights went ahead as planned, enabling an Israeli couple to get engaged to be married, hundreds of feet up.

A crowd of 8,000 enjoyed a fireworks display and Nightglow Spectacular on May 10, during which tethered balloons were lit up to music.

Mountain bike stuntman Jez Avery was a star attraction, executing hair-raising jumps over a BMW-donated Mini Cooper. The Oxford Mail raffled the car to raise cash for the Oxford Children's Hospital Campaign.

The Firebird Aerobatics Display Team and smoke-trailing parachutists kept all eyes on the skies and the dog tricks of Cyril the Squirrel and His Racing Terriers were a firm favourite.

It was the third year in a row that Robin Williamson and his wife Jane, of Headington, had been to the fiesta.

Mr Williamson said: "It's just disappointing that the balloons weren't able to take off in the evening, but we enjoyed the rides."

City council events officer Anna Dolan estimated between 25,000 and 30,000 people attended the event.

She said: "The balloon launches at 6am were spectacular. A few were disappointed that we couldn't have the full launches in the evenings but it comes down to safety. The wind was too strong."