SUFFOLK grandmother Carol Firman has always dreamed of going up, up and away in a beautiful balloon.But today her trip of a lifetime has left her stuck at home with her leg in plaster.

SUFFOLK grandmother Carol Firman has always dreamed of going up, up and away in a beautiful balloon.

But today her trip of a lifetime has left her stuck at home with her leg in plaster.

And she was so excited about her trip that she did not even know she had broken her ankle until the day after.

Mrs Firman, from Constable Way in Stowmarket, was bought the trip for her 60th birthday in May. After being delayed once because of bad weather, it was rescheduled for last Monday .

She said: “I'd been looking forward to it. I've always wanted to go up in a balloon and this was something I was really keen to do.”

However as she got into the basket, she hurt her ankle.

She said: “I thought I'd twisted it. It didn't feel too bad and I was determined to go through with the flight.

“I could feel it, but I wasn't really worried, I didn't think it was anything serious and I had a wonderful flight. We had champagne when we came down. It was wonderful.”

There were ten people in the balloon that took off from Stowmarket, and Mrs Firman's family watched her flight from the ground.

She said: “Everything seemed perfect but the next day the ankle was very swollen and hurt a lot and on the Wednesday I went to the doctor who got me x-rayed and that confirmed that I'd broken my ankle.

“I'm now in a plaster for a few weeks - but the trip was fantastic. It was worth all the pain!”

Mrs Firman is now relying on her husband Maurice to help around the house, but is philosophical about the accident: She said: “It was just one of those things.”

A spokesman for Virgin Balloons who organised the trip said: “Our safety record is very good and I am pleased Mrs Firman enjoyed her flight with us.

“I am sorry to hear about her accident as she got into the basket, and we all hope that she makes a speedy recovery.”