The balloons set off from
Dover

It's official - a new world record is not just full of hot
air.

The Guinness World Records has confirmed a record has been
broken - when 49 hot air balloons flew across the English Channel
on April 7 this year.

Competitors had been waiting for the right weather conditions
since the beginning of March.

Balloonists came from across Europe, including Italy and
Germany, before setting off from Lydden Hill Race
Circuit near Dover. They landed less than four hours
later near Calais.

The official entry in the Guinness World Records reads: "The
most hot air balloons to cross the English Channel is 49 and was
organised by Palletways (UK) on 7 April 2011. The group took off
from Lydden Hill Race Circuit, Dover, UK and landed at Calais
Airport, France."