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In Pictures: Balloons, festivals and flower shows

Getty Images A group of 11 colourful hot air balloons are seen from above. They are fully inflated on College Green in Bristol as a publicity event for the 2026 Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. In the background Park Street is visible leading uphill towards the Wills Memorial Building, a large stone tower, in the distanceGetty Images
Bristolians got a sneak preview of the balloon fiesta this week with a special launch from College Green

This week in the West, the summer festival season continued with the return of WOMAD in Wiltshire and thousands of music fans heading to the harbourside for Siren Bristol.

There were also plenty of celebrations - from World War Two veterans reaching big milestones in Wiltshire to the Bristol rower who is now a world-record breaker for his achievements.

We've also baked in the hot weather as the heatwave continues, but summer weather is providing some beautiful sunsets.

Here is our weekly round-up of photographs from across the West.

Bristol

Alastair Brookes/KoLAB Studios The band The Maccabees are seen standing on stage in a picture taken from the back of the stage. They are facing a large crowd who are applauding them in the Bristol Harbourside Arena during the Siren festival.Alastair Brookes/KoLAB Studios
Alastair Brookes/KoLAB Studios The band The Maccabees are seen standing on stage in a picture taken from the back of the stage. They are facing a large crowd who are applauding them in the Bristol Harbourside Arena during the Siren festival.Alastair Brookes/KoLAB Studios

Midweek music: The Maccabees kicked off Siren Bristol in the harbourside amphitheatre on Thursday night, with further concerts happening on Friday and Saturday.

A group of people wearing high vis jackets holding their arms up and cheering, photographed in front of a large plane

On the move: Europe's only surviving Bristol Freighter was carefully manoeuvred out from its hangar for the first time since returning to Bristol in 2018. The huge aircraft has a wingspan of 108 ft (32.9m) so it is too big to be housed in the museum building. Instead it is being permanently moved to become an outdoor exhibit, with the wings being reinstalled next month.

Stefano Capella Five men standing in front of London's tower bridge, holding a trophy. They are all wearing blue tops and shortsStefano Capella

Breaking records: Royal Navy surgeon and rower Surg Lt Cdr Stefano Capella (right), from Bristol, became one of a small group of people who have circumnavigated Great Britain in a rowing boat.

Fewer than 30 people have achieved this feat. His team, Rowmads, have also become world-record breakers, doing it in 32 days and 30 minutes.

A man holding a pen colouring in the teeth of a mural on a wall. The wall is purple, and celebrates Eddie Kinuthia with a drawing of him

Remembering Eddie: Friends and family of Eddie Kinuthia attended the unveiling of a new mural of the late teenager in St Paul's.

Eddie was fatally stabbed there in July 2023. His family said the mural of him has "brought back the light".

Gloucestershire

Beatriz Gonçalves A view of the town of Nibley in Gloucestershire, showing houses and treesBeatriz Gonçalves

Looking down: A different perspective of Nibley in Gloucestershire, showing the countryside stretching out into the distance.

David Polier Two people dressed in medieval outfits engaged in combat. One is striking the other with an axeDavid Polier

"It's just a flesh wound": Members of the Gloucester Armoured Combat club have hosted their first home competition, the Severnside Clash. Armoured Combat is like mixed martial arts wearing medieval suits of armour, and winners are the last people standing. Despite the fierce-looking photos, members say it's no more dangerous than game of rugby.

Gloucester City Council A large digger clearing a large pile of rubbishGloucester City Council

Illegally dumped: Gloucester City Council and the Environment Agency have been clearing more than 200 tonnes of illegally dumped rubbish near to St Oswald's. The collection was paused on Wednesday as a "significant amount" of asbestos was discovered.

Mike King A grey bird with black long tail feathers photographed in a bushMike King

Off course: a very rare long-tailed shrike has been spotted in Gloucestershire. It is believed to have gone several thousands of miles off course from Asia. Only three sightings of the species have ever been recorded in the UK. It's currently at home in Eastleach.

Wiltshire

WeatherWatchers/Sukisnaps Light pour through a gap between stones at Stonehenge early in the morning.WeatherWatchers/Sukisnaps

Stones illuminated: Come rain or shine, Stonehenge stands as an imposing addition to the landscape from all angles.

WeatherWatcher Sukisnaps captured the monument early in the morning before the customary influx of sightseers.

@garryjonesphotography A man and a woman smile as they walk through the WOMAD festival site in Wiltshire. The man is wearing a black vest top, has long hair and is carrying a rucksack. The woman has long black hair, is wearing glasses and also carrying a rucksack. The grass behind them is light brown in colour@garryjonesphotography

Festival fun: The World of Music, Arts and Dance Festival (Womad) is back in Wiltshire this weekend. Thousands of music lovers have descended on Neston Park Estate, near Corsham. The festival took a break last year after moving from from Charlton Park near Malmesbury.

A field of sunflowers

It was all yellow: This flurry of yellow sunflowers were photographed at Chippenham Sunflowers in Kington St Michael.

WeatherWatchers/Dotty A glorious summer sunset captured from high ground in Draycot Foliat near Swindon. WeatherWatchers/Dotty

Hillside wonder: Many thanks to WeatherWatcher Dotty for sending in this dramatic shot of the earthworks in Draycot Foliat near Swindon.

Here's to more glorious sunlit evenings.

Mark Dunn Veteran Roy Booth sits in an arm chair while wearing an 100th birthday baseball cap. His wife Babs sits next to him wearing a dark green dress.Mark Dunn

Going strong: A World War Two veteran from Bradford-on-Avon celebrated his 100th birthday on Tuesday. Roy Booth took part in the Arctic convoys aged only 18 and is one of the oldest WW2 veterans remaining in Wiltshire.

Swindon Borough Council Several members of the military next to some councillors. All are standing in a line, and there is an artillery gun behind themSwindon Borough Council

Attention: Swindon councillors visited the Defence Academy in Shrivenham to explore opportunities for closer collaboration on education, skills and support with the armed forces community.

The academy, located six miles outside the town offers postgraduate training to armed forces personnel.

Somerset

Getty Images Dozens of Somerset cricket fans sit in a stand at Taunton on a sunny evening as they watch their team play Gloucestershire. Many of them are wearing hats and sunglassesGetty Images

Fantastic Friday: Somerset and Gloucestershire fans packed out the County Ground in Taunton on Friday night to watch the hosts win the local derby in the one-day cup.

Cheryl Dennis/BBC A man and a woman stand inside a large white marquee looking at a large floral display of pink and dark purple flowers, which is laid out on a long white tableCheryl Dennis/BBC
Cheryl Dennis/BBC A line of contestants stand in front of a large marquee. They are holding up various certificates and trophies won at the Bicknoller Flower ShowCheryl Dennis/BBC

Brilliant blooms: The Bicknoller Flower Show, which is closing in on its 100th anniversary, was held at the weekend. There were many stunning floral displays on show, as well as prize-winning garden produce.

NHS Somerset A large group of medical staff - almost all of them in blue scrubs, line up for the camera. They are in two rows and above them is a line of bunting with the word "20" on it in white lettering on a dark backgroundNHS Somerset

Milestone: Staff at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton have been celebrating 20 years of the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, which was launched in 2026.

WeatherWatchers/Sparky A fisherman with his rods dug into the sand, standing in front of the tideWeatherWatchers/Sparky

Catch of the day: thanks to WeatherWatchers photographer Sparky who took this picture of a fisherman at the beach in Minehead.

Eddie Ilic A man wearing blue and white doctorate robes, and a blue cap. He is photographed on a street in Bath smilingEddie Ilic

A cut above the rest: Bath-based barber Eddie Ilic was given an honorary doctorate by Bath Spa University. Eddie started Streetcuts seven years ago, a community project offering free haircuts to homeless people in Bristol and Bath.

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust A teenager standing in the middle of the photo, next to his mum and a hospital worker. The three are photographed outside with plants behind themRoyal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

Crystal anniversary: Bath's Royal United Hospital has celebrated the 15th anniversary of its Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care.

One of the guests invited back to celebrate was 15-year-old Joshua, who was the first baby cared for by the unit in 2011. He weighed just 1.5kg at birth.

A wall with a yellow covering, and a painting of a crab which is holding a wooden fork and a chip

Weston Wallz: The street art festival has taken place in Weston-super-Mare this week, turning buildings in the town into a giant art gallery. Twenty huge murals have been painted throughout the town, including this one of a crab with a chip.

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