Updated 10.05 a.m.

An American man this morning managed to cross the English Channel using a cluster of helium-filled balloons.

To cheers from well-wishers, Jonathan Trappe lifted off from a field in Kent strapped underneath his colourful collection of gigantic inflatables. He later landed in a field in France.

He told Sky News shortly before taking off: "I think we can make it. We have got a beautiful day here. We are going to fly the English Channel in a cluster of balloons."

Mr Trappe set off from Kent Gliding Club in Challock, near Ashford - about 10 miles from the coast - shortly after 5am.

A helicopter crew filmed him rising slowly off the ground, with his seat attached to each of the several dozen balloons.

He has already made a number of trips using his balloon cluster.

Last month he claimed a new world record for the longest free-floating balloon flight, flying 109 miles across North Carolina.

He described the English Channel as an "iconic ribbon of water that is calling", and in March visited both England and France to meet with aviation authorities.

Mr Trappe's seat pod was packed with position finding and communication equipment, but he was not wearing an immersion suit. This could see him land in trouble if he is forced to ditch in the sea.

His feat is reminiscent of the hero of the recent hit animated film Up. That saw grumpy pensioner Carl Fredericksen attach hundreds of coloured balloons to his house and fly off to South America.