Balloons take to the skies for annual race in Castleton

The annual balloon race

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Over 150 colourful balloons painted an impressive picture against Castleton’s blue skies on Saturday afternoon (26 August) for the annual balloon race.

It was a real community event as the balloons could be seen heading east after their 3pm release.

Claire Dring from Forget Me Not and her son, Ryan, were in charge of the launch, which went off without a hitch to the music of The Great Escape, provided by Barry Wild.

Also helping raise more funds on the day were a prize tombola and a bric-a-brac stall.

Organised by the Friends of the Old Carnegie Library, the event takes place each year in August as a novel way of raising funds for the building. This year, funds will help refurbish some internal community space that the Friends will have inside following a superb restoration.

Costing £1 each, there is a prize of £25 for the balloon travelling the furthest, plus a £25 prize for the person who finds and reports it. Last year, the winning balloon was found an astonishing 130 miles away in Great Massingham in Norfolk.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/138/community-news/105324/winning-balloon-found-in-norfolk