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Wales' International Balloon Festival is moving across the border to England.

The event, one of the biggest in Llangollen, has been held on the town’s Pavilion field on and off for nearly 20 years, but next year it will be held at the British Ironwork Centre in Shropshire.

It is not yet known whether the festival will retain its name.

The organisers of this year’s balloon festival, Nightingale House Hospice in Wrexham, said the weather meant there was too much financial risk involved in running it.

Caroline Siddall, the hospice’s director of income generation, said the Ironwork Centre wanted to organise a balloon festival and would give the hospice the profits.

She said: “We never said we’d organise a balloon festival every year.

“People must remember we are a charity not an events company.

“The balloon festival was a much bigger event to organise than what we normally do.

“And even though our event was a success, and we made a profit, if it had rained it could have been a different story.

“When the British Ironwork Centre in Shropshire told us they wants to organise their own balloon festival and that we could have the profits then it obviously takes away all the pressure away from us.

“If we lose money, it’s not our money to lose – it’s hospice money.”

The news caused widespread dismay in the Denbighshire town, as the event brought in thousands of visitors.

Cllr Stuart Davies said: “It’s seems ironic that an event called the Wales International Balloon Festival is now apparently going to be held in England.

“Last August’s festival was a massive success and the town was even busier than when the Llangollen International Eisteddfod is here.

“People are very upset.”

There was also widespread anger on the Llangollen noticeboard Facebook page.

One comment said: “Call me picky but it’s the WALES International Balloon Festival now to be held in England?”

Another person said: “Wasn’t North Wales voted one of the top destinations to visit/Holiday? Disappointed to hear this....it was the busiest weekend for Llangollen this year!!!”

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