ONE hundred balloons have been released into the skies of Epping Forest as part of a series of events to raise money for disabled people.

Staff at the Bakers Arms in Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey, hope to raise up to £100 from the event for charity Scope.

Attached to each balloon was a free meal voucher for a meal at the pub, with the management promising to donate £1 from each coupon returned.

General manager Tracey Murphy said: “We have a member of staff climbing Mount Kilimanjaro next year for Scope, so we decided to get involved and raise lots of money for the charity over the next year ourselves. We've got many more events coming up.

“The balloon release went well, the only hitch was it was a bit windy when we released them. We're looking forward to see where they end up.

"Last year we had someone phoning up from China saying they'd found one, but I don't think they ever came into the restaurant.”