A RECRUITMENT company based in Stonehouse successfully led around 100 hot air balloons from Dover to France, breaking a world record in the process.

Datum RPO, based in Bonds Mill, Stonehouse, led the way at 6.10am today after plans were postponed from Sunday, March 5 in a search for perfect weather conditions.

This attempt was organised by world leading aerial marketing specialists Exclusive Ballooning, who recently obtained the Guinness World Record for the first people to successfully fly a hot air balloon in all of the USA’s 50 states.

The previous record was set in 2011 and saw 49 balloons fly across the English Channel, however this record has now been smashed, and thousands of pounds was raised for charity in the process.

James Strickland, co-founder of Datum RPO said: “Having flown balloons all over the world, taking part in cross-channel flight in 2011, I can honestly say there is nothing quite like it, it was truly amazing.

“Crossing one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, in a hot air balloon is a unique and amazing experience, especially in an immersion suit.

“This event brings out the adventurer in me and I’m looking forward to this intrepid experience again.”

Datum RPO are experts in recruitment process outsourcing and handle the entire recruitment process for some of the UK’s biggest companies.

Andrew Holly, operations director for Exclusive Ballooning said: “I'm always asked about my favourite flights having flown for 20 years all over the world.

“Without doubt, the channel crossing flight in 2011 is my number one and the opportunity to repeat this was just too tempting.

“We're delighted to be able to share this experience with so many other friends and balloonists and also give the opportunity to those new younger pilots who were not eligible to take part in 2012."