Wallace & Gromit hot air balloon and 16ft pants spotted in the sky over Bristol

Balloon enthusiasts and Bristol residents looking up to the skies on Thursday night (June 20) may have had to do a double take as a pair of 16ft long pants soared over Bristol.

Carried by the iconic Wallace & Gromit Moon Rocket hot air balloon, the trousers were flown over Bristol to mark Wrong Trousers Day, which takes place today (Friday 21 June). The annual fundraiser asks people to dress up in their most “ridiculous” outfits to raise money for The Grand Appeal.

The five-metre-tall trousers, which could be seen flying under the Wallace & Gromit Moon Rocket hot air balloon in a world premiere, were flown by Exclusive Ballooning especially to celebrate “the craziest of dress-up days”.

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For the past 27 years, people in Bristol and beyond have dressed up in sequined stockings, paraded around in their pyjamas or rocked funky rackets to raise money for seriously ill babies and children at Bristol Children’s Hospital and from St Michael’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Helen Haskell, Head of Corporate Fundraising, said: “Wrong Pants Day is a pillar of our fundraising calendar, from day one the people of Bristol and beyond have embraced it with open arms. Dare to wear funky pants for a fantastic cause. £1 and a pair of ridiculous trousers is all it takes to get involved and support some of the region’s most seriously ill babies and children.”

The Grand Appeal is the charity dedicated to Bristol Children’s Hospital, which cares for 100,000 babies, children and young people every year in South West and South Wales, covering the largest geographical area of ​​any children’s hospital in England .

Did you notice the giant pants in the sky over Bristol last night?