RESIDENTS of a Fenland care home were left stunned when one of the 360 balloons they released into the sky floated to Belgium.

A sea of purple balloons drifted across Fenland when Glenfield Care Home in Wisbech held its first race to raise money for its residents comfort fund.

However, they were amazed to learn that Mrs Yardley’s balloon had drifted more than 200 miles from Wisbech before coming to rest in Europe.

The winner kindly donated her �25 prize-winning voucher back into the fund which raises money for residents to go on trips. �337 was raised from the event.

Amanda Scott, activities co-ordinator at the home, said: “If anyone wondered why there were all those purple balloons in the sky then now they know.

“We had a few calls from the Norfolk/Suffolk border to say our balloons had ended up there. However, we couldn’t believe it when we had a call from a woman in Belgium telling us one of our balloons had reached her house.

“It’s amazing to think it travelled that far.”

Eight residents were then treated to another special event as the Wisbech Lions Club took them out for a pub lunch at the Wheatsheaf in the town’s Church Terrace.