Oxford Street London Large Illuminated Art Installation blows out of control 4/1/18 (Picture: @sheen_p7)

If you stopped by Oxford Street last night, you might have thought Star Wars had descended upon us.

But don’t worry, there’s no outer-space forces at play here.

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The giant white blob, which has appeared above Oxford Circus, is actually an art installation which has been put up to mark the start of the Lumiere Light art festival.

Except for rather than it being a stationary object suspended in the air, the massive ball was seen swaying above thousands of concerned shoppers during Storm Eleanor winds last night.


It even dropped to within feet of London double decker buses as they drove through the junction.

They’re putting up a giant balloon above #OxfordCircus while 60mph winds are predicted… What could possibly go wrong?! ??‍♂️ Does anyone actually know what it’s for?! pic.twitter.com/pnvbxc1GcF — Grant (@SnowAndBeach) January 4, 2018

What on earth is this big blob doing above #oxfordcircus?! pic.twitter.com/mlHuQxmJ7G — Caroline Klein (@CarolineSKlein) January 4, 2018

I think Patrick McGoohan’s safe for now. What a cockup. #oxfordcircus pic.twitter.com/EwEeaPQW7R — Laurence Zavriew (@LaurenceHZ) January 4, 2018

Dozens of people took to social media to share their concern – as well as wonder – at the white object.



One shopper noted: ‘Oxford Circus being closed off – guessing they’re bringing Skywalker in to deal with the Death Star?’

Another person commented: ‘Who could predict that installing a giant balloon above Oxford Circus on the windiest day of the year would go horribly wrong.’

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While one asked: ‘Why exactly is there a giant ball in Oxford Circus? What purpose could it possibly have worth holding up all that traffic for?’

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At one point, the junction had to be closed by police as it became to blow uncontrollably. It was eventually taken down just before midnight on Thursday.

The Lumiere London festival is due to take place from January 18 to 21 and will showcase more than 40 artists across Covent Garden and Oxford Circus.

The event’s website said new installations will include illuminated singing see-saws in Mayfair, a meditation on time from the Industrial Revolution to the present day on Regent Street, and a Matisse-inspired animation dancing across the facade of the Royal Academy of Arts on Piccadilly.

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