AN IMPROMPTU balloon release by a Kidderminster restaurant proved to be more than hot air – when they ended up in Germany!

Nojmul Sayadat, who owns Sher-E-Punjab, was shocked to receive a Facebook message from German resident Frankie Klein telling him that the balloons he released on Friday (June 26) had been found in Willich, near Dusseldorf, 48 hours later.

Mr Sayadat said he originally hoped the three helium balloons, which were attached to cards advertising his business, would make it as far as Stourport or Bewdley.

But he said he never believed that they would be capable of travelling hundreds of air miles to end up on the continent.

He said: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw the message. I was totally surprised and I could not stop laughing when I saw they’d gone all the way to Germany.

“We give all our customers feedback cards to fill in after their meals and attach helium balloons to them.

“After we closed on Friday, we found three of the cards and balloons left on tables. So I thought I’d release them and see how far they would go. This wasn’t planned; it was just something I did in the spur of the moment.

“I thought that, at best, they’d end up as far as Bewdley but I never thought they’d ever go that far. All my family and friends burst out laughing when I told them and it’s got a good reaction on Facebook.”

In his Facebook message to the restaurant, Mr Klein said: “I found this hanging on balloons in D-47877 Willich, near Dusseldorf/Cologne!

“I was very surprised to find out what long way the balloons were flying...many greets from Germany!”