A first-of-its-kind, fun packed weekend hot air balloon event is coming to Northumberland.

The Northumberland Balloon Festival will be coming to Tynedale Park in Corbridge on July 12 - 14.

On the three-day event, customers will see three hot air balloon shows each day, funfair rides, different types of entertainment and local catering businesses available for the whole weekend.

The event has been organised by Peter Richardson, 27, who is following in his family's business Richardsons Amusements: Fairground Rides Hire North East, which he has worked in since he was a teen.

The Northumberland Balloon Festival is a branch of the company that Peter oversees.

"We have always wanted to do a big event like this in Northumberland for many years, and now is our chance - after two years of planning,” Peter said.

"I have always been in the entertainment business as my family own Richardsons Amusements, which is about 100 years old and holds different events annually nationwide. I have been a part of that since I turned 18.

"Northumberland Balloon Festival is a separate business - which I am the main one leading it.

"We saw that there was a big gap for something like this and saw that residents didn't have to go travelling down south or anywhere else.

"We only put out our announcements about the event on social media this week and set up our page - to which we have 2000 followers. 

"It is crazy, but we are so pleased and over the moon of how well the event has been accepted.

"We promise that it will be a fun-filled family day out that will be of great value and not expensive, but it will be something different.

"Everyone will be entertained as there will be rides, a lot of food and plenty of entertainment such as children's characters.

"On Saturday - the balloon show will be 25 of them lighting up the sky.

"We are really hoping this event will take off and become something to put in the calendars so it can be an annual event to look forward to.

"We hope to add more things to the event every year - such as balloon rides.

"Since it is our first year, we thought it would be too much, but it is an idea we are keen to do next time."