A hot-air balloon on a pleasure trip was forced to make an emergency landing in a field in Arklow, Co Wicklow, yesterday.
The balloon, piloted by Mr Malcolm White, took off from Macreddin village, near Aughrim, with five passengers early yesterday morning.
However, as it reached a height of 2,000 feet, a strong wind threatened to sweep it out to sea and the pilot decided to make an emergency landing. As it descended, the balloon struck a bungalow, at Love Lane, dislodging some roof tiles.
It came to rest just a short distance from the sea in a wheat field belonging to local Fine Gael councillor Mr Sylvester Bourke.
"It was lucky he didn't hit the roof head-on because the balloon might have tipped over," Mr Bourke said.
No one was hurt but the balloon passengers were quite shaken.
Mr Bourke and his neighbours offered them tea and assisted in packing the balloon on to its trailer.
The flight was operated by a Dublin-based company, Images in Flight, which charges up to £150 per person for the pleasure trips.
Mr White confirmed the emergency landing had occurred but declined to comment further.