Fan on cloud nine after gig in the sky with dance group

Martin Potts won a competition to share a hot air balloon flight with leading dance act Above & Beyond. The trio lived up to their name when they left the ground behind to play an acoustic set on the flight of a lifetime for Martin.

The 23-year-old checkout worker, of Sun Park Close, said: "It was a really amazing experience. I've listened to the band for two or three years and it was the first time I had met them. It was also the first time I had been in a hot air balloon. So, it was good all the way round.

"I spoke to the members of the band and they were really friendly and really down to earth."

They also gave Martin plenty of signed memorabilia.

Martin won the chance to head into a sky through Above & Beyond's email newsletter. He just clicked on a banner headline and two months later was told he was the winner. It took several months for the right weather conditions to appear to allow the flight to go ahead.

It took off from Biggleswade in Bedfordshire and lasted for just over an hour and took them 11 miles. The landing spot was a field complete with cows. Celebratory champagne flowed afterwards.

Above & Beyond played three tracks '“ Can't Sleep, Good For Me and No One On Earth '“ during the intimate gig.

The trio, Tony, Jono and Paavo were joined by vocalist Zoe Johnston on the flight.

Also in the basket was Radio 1 DJ Pete Tong, who covered the event for the BBC, and Martin and his former school friend, Carl Schooley, who now lives in Hemel Hempstead.

Officially Britain's most popular DJs, Above & Beyond recently won an international dance music award.

They have also won numerous compilation of the month awards through their mix albums.

Their latest launch was to remix the classic Trance Nation album series for the Ministry Of Sound.

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