WILTSHIRE adventurer David Hempleman-Adams is still waiting to begin his epic balloon flight across the Atlantic.

David, 46, hopes to become the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic from west to east in a balloon with a traditional open wicker basket.

But yesterday the conditions were not deemed right for take off, as it was raining in Pittsburgh, USA, and it is not likely that the bid will be launched before Friday morning.

The nerve-centre of David's challenge will be at the Bank of Ireland's headquarters in Pittsburgh. From there commercial balloon pilot and flight director Dr David Owen will plot his friend's route across the Atlantic.

The control centre will be manned 24 hours a day throughout the duration of David's adventure, which is scheduled to last a week. If successful, the journey will take him more than 3,400 miles to somewhere in central Europe.

If he makes it, David will have smashed the solo distance record for a balloon with an open wicker basket.

Last year, he was 26 hours in the balloon after taking off from Pittsburgh before having to ditch in Connecticut, before reaching the Atlantic.

The British solo distance record stands at 1,426 miles and the British solo duration record is 132 hours.

David's latest adventure comes weeks after he successfully managed to walk 300 miles to the geo-magnetic North Pole part of it with a broken ankle.

Several modifications to the five-ton Roziere class balloon have been made since David's failed attempt last year.

You can follow the fortunes of David's epic adventure in the Advertiser's daily update.