Irish trip for Burnham balloons

11:22am Sunday 6th July 2008

TWO balloons launched from a Burnham shop in May have found there way to Ireland, after a mammoth journey across the Irish Sea.

Sue Ryder Care in Burnham's High Street was one of the shops branches to launch around 250 balloons to celebrate being named aerospace giant BAE Systems' charity of the year.

But the Burnham shop scooped first and third in the national competition to see which balloons went the furthest, with first place landing in Gormanston, Ireland - about 215 miles away - and the third getting to Kilteal, in Wexford, Ireland.

The winner, an employee from BAE Systems, who purchased the first place balloon, won a flight in a hot air balloon - and the finders won champagne.

Helen Roberts, manager of Sue Ryder Care in Burnham, told the Weekly News: "Out of all the balloons that were launched nationwide two of the balloons launched from the Burnham shop managed first and third place, which is quite amazing.

"Even more surprising was that they both managed to get to Ireland.

"I'm glad the volunteers and staff chased those balloons down the high street and teased them into the air as we were able to make someone's day."