UP to a dozen revellers had to be rescued by step ladder from one of the fairground rides at the Mop Fair in Marlborough on Saturday night.

The ride ground to a halt shortly after 8pm, stranding the customers aboard 12ft above the ground.

Some were in tears and others calling out to friends and family on the ground. It took up to half an hour for fairground operators to fetch step ladders and take each passenger down individually.

Eleven-year-old Jessica Loney and her 14-year-old sister Natalie were among those stuck on the ride.

Their mother, Emma Loney, who works at the One Stop Shop in High Street, said: "They were a bit scared, but they're fine now. In fact, they went on other rides later on that evening.

"But my boss, Sue Foot, was on there as well and she has sworn never to do it again."

Heather Clay, secretary of the western division of the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain, which organises the Mop Fairs, said it was extremely rare for rides to break down with people on them.

She said: "Each operator carries out a risk assessment and in this they work out when they will call the emergency services and when they will deal with it themselves.

"In this case, it was thought correct not to call the emergency services."