AN inflatable 'grenade' with an England flag attached to it was spotted flying over Bury and Ramsbottom over the weekend.

The hot air balloon, which is shaped like a grenade, was spotted floating over the region yesterday afternoon as England prepared to take on Italy in the final of Euro 2020.

A number of people took to Twitter to wonder why on earth there was a grenade-shaped balloon floating over their heads.

One said: "Oddly an inflatable grenade has just floated past the house."

Another wrote: "Air balloon shaped like a giant hand grenade floating across Ramsbottom #SurrealMoment"

In fact the hot air balloon is a giant 100ft replica of the logo for sports nutrition brand Grenade and has been touring the UK in recent months thanks to Bloon, the UK's only inflatable and aerial marketing agency.

A spokesperson from Grenade said: “We took to the skies on Sunday to show support for the England football team during the final. Irrespective of the result we hope that the balloon, and the giant England flag trailing behind it, helped to raise the country’s spirits.”