Rush hour chaos erupted on Oxford Circus after a huge balloon almost collapsed on shoppers in high winds.

The large Christmas decoration came loose on the busy London junction on Thursday evening as Storm Eleanor passed through the UK.

The decoration known as "Lumiere", described as a gigantic balloon, became partially untethered causing it to float just above the road junction buffeted by winter winds.

The incident disrupted rush-hour traffic as a large cherry-picker truck parked in the middle of the street to allow a rigging crew access to its fittings.

(Image: Twitter/@BBCTravelAlert)

(Image: Twitter/@BBCTravelAlert)

The balloon, likened to the Death Star spaceship from Star Wars, was eventually deflated but Oxford Street remained closed until 6am.

Storm Eleanor battered parts of the United Kingdom on Wednesday, causing power cuts, travel disruption and flooding.