Lost balloon found on farmland

A balloon sent into space by school pupils from Somerset has ben found on farmland in East Markham.

The MARSballoon project contained 70 everyday objects and was one of two balloons launched from Frome in March.

One balloon was found in Warwickshire but because the battery ran out on the GPS beacon on the second its position could no longer be tracked.

Residents in East Markham were alerted to the possibility the object was in the village back in April. The project co-ordinator posted an appeal on Facebook after receiving transmitting signals and was able to give a map reference to an area of countryside between East Markham and Tuxford

The second balloon was found in a field in East Markham after being run over by a tractor.

The remains will now be returned to Oakfield Academy in Frome.