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Thrillseekers hit highs and lows at Birdman contest

News imageRobert Browne Big crowd watching a man attached to a wings shaped like a swan plunging into the water.Robert Browne
Thousands of people came to watch thrillseekers plunge off a 14ft high (4.5m) platform to try to travel as far as possible

Thousands of people attended a city's second Birdman contest, where competitors attempted to fly across a harbour in homemade contraptions.

Thrillseekers in Bristol built elaborate inventions to plunge off a 4.5m (14.7ft) raised platform - but few made it very far.

Bristol Beer Factory kicked off the event at 11:00 BST with the first jump, followed UWE's school of engineering team, who built an inflatable model of the Concorde.

Bakehouse Factory's team were crowned the highest fundraisers and won the The Young Person's Panel's favourite flight award. They were dressed as food being targeted by seagulls in Bristol harbour.

But the overall winners were the team from organisers Grassroots Communities, who won with their gliding contraption. Donations from the day go towards supporting the charity's youth work in south Bristol

News imageHundreds of people are sat along Bristol Harbour, with boats on the water and coloured houses and trees in the background.
Bristol Harbour was lined with thousands of spectators soaking up the sun and silliness
News imageRobert Browne Person attached to rainbow shoot attached to them splashing in the water.Robert Browne
People in homemade contraptions attempted to fly as far as possible after jumping off a 4.5m (14.7ft) raised platform
News imageRobert Browne Man clinging on to a blue and yellow boat pointed upwards from the water with lots of people sitting on a grass verge watching. Robert Browne
The event rules state that the flying contraptions must be made from recycled materials
News imageCrowds sat near water with person dressed in yellow climbing out of Bristol Harbourside.
The event, which is free to attend, was staged at Baltic Wharf near Underfall Yard
News imageA man is wearing a yellow and blue costume made to look like a zero percent beer can with the name Clear Head. He is holding a hand glider above his head at the edge of a raised platform looking down onto Bristol Harbour.
The Bristol Beer Factory team show off their Clear Head costume reminiscent of their non-alcoholic beer that generates money for a local mental health charity
News imagePeople dressed up as food, including chips and a sandwich, wait around in a circle
The Young Person's Panel's favourite flight was the Bakehouse Factory, who also were the highest fundraisers. They were dressed up as food being targeted by seagulls in Bristol Harbour

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