A hi-tech helium balloon which was on course to take pictures of the Earth has been lost in Oxfordshire.

Students from the University of Nottingham’s PhysSoc society launched the balloon, which is attached to three cameras, on Friday.

PhysSoc president Kris Thobroe said: “The balloon was equipped with a payload carrying three cameras and some electronics designed to radio the balloon’s GPS co-ordinates back to us every five seconds. We successfully tracked the balloon across the midlands until it reached an altitude of 5km but then lost signal.”

The team estimates that the balloon would have reached a height of 28,000 metres before bursting.

A bright green and orange parachute would then have been released and students hope to find the equipment either around Oxford or Bicester.

Contact physsoc@mail.com if you have any information.