Worcester Balloon Festival will be returning in 2024.

The city’s first-ever hot air balloon festival took place on Pitchcroft in June, with thousands of people watching balloon take-offs and other entertainment over two days.

Despite the success of the festival, that weekend will be remembered in Worcester for the death of balloonist Peter Gregory, who died when his hot air balloon crashed in Ombersley near the A449 on Sunday, June 25.

Festival organisers said the 25-year-old’s flight was “independent” and not related to the festival.

It has now been announced that Worcester Balloon Festival will return to Pitchcroft provisionally on Friday, June 21 and Saturday, June 22, 2024.

Announcing the dates on its Facebook page, the festival also teased “exciting news” for Sunday, June 23, telling followers to stay tuned for updates.

Organisers said they have already booked a bar, ice cream stall and sweets/candy stall for next year’s event and are inviting other traders to get in touch if they’d like to attend.

Anyone interested in taking part is asked to email worcesterballoonfestival@gmail.com for more information.

Last year’s festival was dogged by weather problems before balloons were finally allowed to take flight on the Saturday of the festival.

The event had originally been scheduled to take place in May but was postponed because Worcester Racecourse was waterlogged.

Windy conditions on the festival’s opening night then prevented the hot air balloons from taking flight.

When the balloons finally did take to the skies, they made for a spectacular sight over the city.

Following the tragic death of Mr Gregory the day after the balloon festival, his family paid tribute to their “Pilot Pete”.

"Be it in a hot air balloon or as an Airline Pilot, Peter’s passion for flying was something his family and friends could only admire and support him towards,” they said.

“When he set his heart to something, he’d never give up, he was driven and determined, and one could only watch on in awe.

“We will fly together again soon Pete. We love you.”

The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated by the Air Accident Investigation Branch.