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In pictures: Fiesta festivities and Prince William's camp visit

Onyi UbadighaWest of England
PA Media 12 hot air balloons are shown blown up in a green field. There are some vans and people dotted around.PA Media

Towering hot air balloons were inflated this week to mark the official launch of this year's international fiesta.

Bristol's world-famous ballooning event will return this August, and to celebrate Ashton Court became the centre of festivities early on Wednesday morning as pilots prepared for the season.

Prince William also visited the West Country for a special trip to Bulford Camp in Wiltshire.

All this and more in our selection of the best photographs from across the West of England.

Bristol

VisitWest A gorilla surrounded by green leaves holding a sugarcane.VisitWest

New arrivals: A new African Forest habitat opened on Wednesday at Bristol Zoo Project. The exhibit includes gorillas, slender-snouted crocodiles and African grey parrots.

All the animals living in the new enclosure are at high risk of extinction in the wild.

PA Media The inside of a pink hot air balloon which two blue and white stripes. There is a man inside who is slightly ducking. PA Media

Not long now: Pilots are preparing for this year's Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, which will take place over the weekend of 7 August.

At the event's official launch this week, pilots created a colourful mini show at Ashton Court.

AJ Stark Two girls dancing on a stage wearing sunglasses. One is wearing a blue shirt and a black tie with a white frilly skirt and black boots. The other is wearing a white shire with a red frilly skirt, red lace tights and black boots. They are both holding microphones. There is a set of drums to the back of the stage and some writing that is cut off. There is a man to the right holding a guitar. AJ Stark

The music goes on: Ritual Union returned last week featuring up-and-coming artists from around the UK.

For the first time, the festival continued into the night with the launch of its "'AFTERGLOW party".

Alfresco Disco Woman performer on stage in front of a big crowd and a male DJ in the background.Alfresco Disco

Late at night: Alfresco Disco returned to Bristol with its Balter Forever festival, which saw 75 artists perform over seven stages.

Gloucestershire

Sudeley Castle & Gardens A picture of some white flowers beside a brown tree with leaves. in the background there is a castle and a field of grass.Sudeley Castle & Gardens

Flower power: Visitors have been flocking to Sudeley Castle and Gardens as the attraction reopened this week following its winter closure.

It is situated within 1,000 acres of Cotswold countryside and has 10 gardens which begin to bloom in spring.

VisitWest A brown and yellow gosling duck on some water.VisitWest

Gozzle: Goslings have taken their first plunge at lakes at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.

The wildlife reserve is on the eastern side of the estuary of the River Severn and is home to various wild birds.

A woman in a purple and yellow hoodie, with glasses on the collar, stand centrally looking into the camera. Behind her is a green field of grass.

Spades in the ground: Volunteers have been busy planting trees for a new community orchard in Ruardean.

Wiltshire

PA Media The Prince of Wales pictured smiling at a baby being held by a woman. Another man can be seen to the left of the image, and also a woman by the camera. There is a bunch of flowers in a vase on the table.PA Media

Fit for a prince: Soldiers at the Bulford Camp in Wiltshire welcomed the Prince of Wales to their regiment earlier this week.

Family members also attended the event to say farewell to the battalion ahead of their six-month deployment to Estonia.

Prince William also spoke with female soldiers to discuss the issues they face in the Armed Forces.

WeatherWatchers/Naddervalley Fields of rapeseed crops seen across an undulating rural landscape near Chilmark.WeatherWatchers/Naddervalley

Look how they shine: The familiar sight of yellow rapeseed crops spilling across the south Wiltshire landscape has returned just in time for Easter. The above photograph was taken in Chilmark near Tisbury.

Gemma Hunter A woman cross the finish line at a race. She is wearing a white top and black camouflage shorts. She is also wearing a red running vest with a water bottle.She is also wearing sunglasses.Gemma Hunter

On your marks: A Wiltshire woman has completed a half marathon, two years after sustaining serious injuries in a hit-and-run incident.

The beginning of spring has seen many half marathons staged across the UK.

Somerset

Three wood crosses on a green hill, each attached to the ground with blue rope. There is a group of people, around 20, gathered in front of the middle cross.

Tradition: Easter weekend is nearly here, and to mark the event, three crosses were been put up in Brent Knoll.

Thousands of M5 motorists will be able to see the crosses and they drive past.

Josh Dury A picture of a pink moonJosh Dury

Glowing: A pink moon was seen on the top of Brent Knoll in Somerset.The moon appeared directly above the crosses, seen above.

While not pink in colour, the name of the April full Moon harks back to ancient traditions before the advent of the modern calendar.

WeatherWatchers/The Cleeve Rambler Weston-super-Mare pier shrouded in fog against a grey sea.WeatherWatchers/The Cleeve Rambler

And finally: Despite spells of sunshine this week, Weston-super-Mare has experienced mixed weather conditions, including fog on Tuesday.

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