In a metaphor for the London housing market, here is Stirling Ackroyd’s hot-air balloon flying high over the capital.

It was, of course, intended to advertise the agency, set up in 1986, rather than sky-high prices.

And it was, let’s face it, a great sight.

The pilot, Andrew Holly, said: “The flight was particularly special as the flightpath took us directly over Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and the Guildhall before continuing through Shoreditch and Stoke Newington, landing out near the M25 in Enfield.

“Only a handful of balloons in history have ever made this flight, and this was certainly the first in recent times.

“Having flown 2,000 flights in almost 50 countries around the world, flying in central London this morning was by far one of the most memorable.”

The big question is, will prices in the capital continue to go up, up and away?