A MAN must have thought he was still sleeping when he opened his curtains and saw a hot air balloon had landed close to his home.

Dag Smith said he was shocked to see the balloon peaking out over neighbours' hedges at about 7.45am on Saturday morning.

Mr Smith, of Sailors Bank, Lower Broadheath, said: "I went to open the curtains and there was a balloon very close to some houses.

"It was astonishing.

"It couldn't possibly have been aiming to get there because it was too near the houses.

"Nothing happened and then it slowly began to deflate but what happened after that, I have no idea."

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said it was not called out to assist with any incident.