A HOT air balloon had to make an unusual landing in a Kidderminster park after being blown off course by high winds.

The balloon touched down in Brinton Park on Saturday night after the unpredictable British weather scuppered plans to descend into West Midland Safari Park in Bewdley.

Fire crews were called to the scene at about 8.15pm but were not needed.

"It was a controlled landing, there was nobody hurt or injured and there was no damage to the balloon," said Alec Mackie, spokesman for Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.

The balloon was piloted by a Birmingham man. Champion balloonist, Dr David Bareford, from Cookley, managed to land in the safari park but watched as his flying friend flew away.

He said: "A gust of wind took him away from the safari park so he couldn't land there so he found the next most convenient place and it was getting towards dusk so he decided to land in the park."

Dr Bareford, a British national hot air balloon champion, said the landing could have been even tighter.

"I have landed on a tennis court before so you don't need much space," he said.