TWO South Lakeland hot air balloon enthusiasts have floated into the record books by flying across the English Channel.

Ian Watthews and Martin Casson joined 48 other hot air ballons from across the UK and Europe and made a once-in-a-life-time 25-mile journey from Dover to Calais to set a record for the largest number of hot air balloons flying over the Channel.

Fifty hot air balloons embarked on the adventure last week, which was also to mark the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the modern hot air balloon.

It took the pair, who each travelled in their own balloons, one-and-a-half-hours at 30 knots to complete the journey.

It was the first time that the pair had travelled over a vast stretch of water but told the Gazette it was an ‘unforgettable’ experience.

Mr Watthews, of Cark, who has been flying since for more than 30 years, said: “When we heard about it we put ourselves forward as it was a great chance to do something different. It is risky because things can go very wrong.

“We normally fly over land and it’s like looking at a map beneath us, but when flying over water it’s a different challenge but it was a liberating experience and it was a special flight,” he said.

Mr Watthews, who is retired, has taken in America, the Artic Circle and Ireland, among many other places in his hot air balloon.

He added: “We were between France and England without power and it was a great feeling. It is an unusual way to see things and it is an exciting way to travel.”

The pair had been waiting to be given the nod by the organisers of the multi balloon flight record 2011, which came on April 7.

They travelled down to Lydden Hill race circuit for a 6am start and launched just as the sun was rising.

Mr Casson, who ran High Adventure Balloons in the Lake District and flew passengers for 20 years before retiring, said: “It was an absolutely amazing and wonderfully magic day.”

Mr Casson, of Crosthwaite, has flown over vin yards in France, over the Alps in Switzerland and all over the Lake District, but he said his flight over the channel ‘ tops’ the rest.

“I have flown the length of Windermere but nothing like the Channel. We were well prepared and we were so confident with the wind and conditions that we were certain we were going to get across.

The only thing that could have gone wrong that day was equipment.

“It was a once in a life time experience and there are not many people have done it. it is an experience which will stay in my memory forever,” he added.

The Guinness World Records is due to verify the attempt within the next few days.