Morning commuters in Bedford received the surprise of a lifetime when a hot air balloon made an emergency landing - missing rooftops, cars, and power lines by mere inches.

The dramatic moment was captured by local resident Emma Firman at around 9:30 am today. She had been headed back from walking her dog in the nearby park when she spotted the balloon hover precariously over nearby rooftops. Thinking quickly, she began recording the surreal scene.

“An Air balloon landing on a residential road after missing the roof tops, cars and electric cables - it was the most incredible scene” Emma said, recalling the close call. “Walking back from the park after a dog walk, I saw the air balloon hovering over the rooftops and started to video.”

What followed was sheer precision under pressure - Emma’s video shows the balloon drifting down and touching down perfectly in the middle of the street. Despite the tight space, the passengers managed to land safely, and shortly after, the balloon deflated in a calm aftermath.

“How close the air balloon was to the houses, cars and electric cables, how they landed perfectly into the middle of the road and the aftermath of the balloon collapsing,” Emma explained. “I don’t think you’ll see anything so spectacular, and so close up with extreme landing perfection.”

The British Balloon and Airship Club confirmed it "landed without incident" and everyone was "OK".

ENDS