The Balloon Fiesta-goers enjoyed a marvellous weekend of weather – hopefully wiping out some of the memories of last year when bad weather led to the balloons staying grounded.

Thousands of people enjoyed the spectacle at Ashton Gate itself with many more positioning themselves at strategic points across the city to get the best view.

A marvellous sight and undoubtedly a highlight of the Bristol calendar.

Unless, that is, you were one of the visitors who spent the afternoon in a traffic jam. For some, the only evidence of the Balloon Fiesta was the sound of the Red Arrows scorching across the sky.

What is clear is that the Balloon Fiesta has become a staggering success, in some respects too successful for its own good.

Around 500,000 attended over the three days, which is around 50 per cent more than normal.

This involves huge organisation and bearing in mind the roads around Ashton Court, which involve single carriageways, bends and hills, it is almost a miracle that the organisers can pull it off at all.

The Balloon Fiesta puts Bristol on the map like few other events and it is crucial that a world-class occasion has world-class organisation.

It seems like this was a case of sheer volume contributing to the problem, with both car parks being filled up for the first time in the event's 31-year history.

What is clear is that people want to be at the festival – the aim now has to be to ensure all of them actually make it.