A HOT-AIR balloon reported stolen from a farm in Tilford at the weekend was quickly retrieved after it was spotted being advertised on eBay. Thieves made off with the £5,000 balloon, which is actually registered as an aircraft, along with the basket, fuel and burner, from the farm in Green Lane sometime during the weekend or on the preceding Thursday or Friday. A Surrey Police spokesman said: "Even in its deflated state, a trailer would have been needed to take the balloon as it is bulky and quite heavy. "There were also concerns that with the fuel being taken as well, anyone who tried to inflate the balloon could have been putting themselves in serious danger." Police had begun initial investigations into the theft when on Monday the balloon was seen on eBay – along with a telephone number for further information. Officers arranged to go and see the balloon. A 31-year-old man from Headley Down was arrested and has been released on police bail.
