A couple who landed a romantic prize trip to Italy found themselves on the brink of making hot-air ballooning history into the bargain.

Vincent and Rowan Williams, of Comer Road, St John's, Worcester, lent a helping hand to Virgin hot-air balloonist Lindsay Muir as she attempted, but failed, to break the world female altitude record in aid of Oxfam on Wednesday.

The couple are enjoying a holiday in Cuneo having won the all-expenses-paid trip to Virgin Balloon Flights' Balloon Training School in nearby Tavaldigi.

"We were stunned when we won the ballooning holiday to Italy," said Mr Williams. "When we found out Lindsay would be attempting a new world record then we knew we'd won a special prize."

They were on the airfield with Ms Muir as she attempted to hit 34,000ft - the current record is 33,669ft. But due to weather conditions, the record attempt had to be aborted.