Tens of hot air balloons from Europe and South America lit up the night skies in Italy on Friday in one of the world's biggest ballooning events.

The hot air balloons are taking part in the Sagrantino Cup, described by organisers as the "most relaxed event in the international ballooning calendar".

The balloons were lined up at an airstrip near the Umbrian town of Terni at sunset and fired up simultaneously.

"Balloons are magical because once you are up there you are just floating along, just with the breeze. You can go as low as the top of the trees or as high as the clouds. You have no idea where you are going to land. It's a magical mystery tour", said Scottish balloonist Andrew Laing.

Participants took off to the skies above the Sagrantino wine-valley at sunrise on Saturday.

According to organisers the ballooning event in the Umbrian valley stretches over ten days and features several occasions for the balloonists to socialise, often over local food and wine.