THE mystery of the errant balloon found 388 miles away from WGC has been solved by the WHT. After we appealed for the owner of the yellow balloon, which travelled to Censerey, in France, to get in touch, Charlotte Barthram contacted

THE mystery of the errant balloon found 388 miles away from WGC has been solved by the WHT.

After we appealed for the owner of the yellow balloon, which travelled to Censerey, in France, to get in touch, Charlotte Barthram contacted us.

The nine-year-old launched the inflatable at her uncle's birthday party in Howlands at about 9.30pm on February 21.

Just two days later in France, Anne-Marie and Hans Kaper stumbled across the balloon, found with a note inside bearing the message "Happy 50th birthday Chris xx Charlotte in WGC".

The couple finally managed to contact Welwyn Hatfield Council on March 19 after struggling to find out what the garden city's abbreviation meant.

Charlotte, of Hunters Way, WGC, told the WHT: "I can't believe the balloon went so far.

"I actually let eight balloons go that night, all had the same message, and I'm now wondering how far they might have gone.

"My uncle Chris is just as amazed as I am about how far the balloon went in such a short time."

The Commonswood School pupil added: "I would really like to say thank you to them [the couple who found the balloon]."

Charlotte's dad, Martin Pratt, 45, said: "We didn't expect it to go that far and out of England, which is why we wrote WGC instead of the full name on the note.

"It's amazing!