Ref 16078/10GAZETTE & HERALD: Four people were left stranded ten metres in the air for an hour and a half when a fairground ride malfunctioned.

Police and firefighters were called to Jennings Fair in Monkton Park in Chippenham on Monday night to help rescue four people trapped in the Top Spin ride.

Two appliances from Chippenham Fire Station attended and rope rescue units from Chippenham and Trowbridge, along with an aerial appliance from Swindon, were mobilised to help the young people suspended in the air.

Leading firefighter Paul Hanlon, from Chippenham, said: "The ride operators had their own emergency procedure. They brought the ride back down and we attended to support them."

Chris Harris, 21, and his younger sister Simone, 15, from Chippenham, were two of the unlucky people trapped on the Top Spin ride when a fuse blew.

Mr Harris, a prison officer, said: "At first it was quite funny, and we were laughing. The ride stopped and we were stuck there for about 20 minutes and no-one was getting us down. No-one was telling us what was going on and I was getting quite concerned."

Their friend Leanna Allison, who was waiting on the ground, said the ride had been going for about three minutes when it suddenly stopped, started, and then stopped again.

"At the start it was quite funny, but they were getting freezing cold and they weren't happy."

Eventually Ms Allison was so concerned she called out the police and at 10.30pm the fire brigade arrived.

Mr Harris said: "After we had waited an hour they said they were waiting for a crane from Swindon. My sister was getting distressed and worried, but they used ropes to bring us down."

He said the ride operator apologised, but he was laughing at the same time and Mr Harris had to ask for his money back. "I was very angry about that. He did give me the money but I had to ask," he said.

Joby Farrell, who operates the Top Spin ride, said it was the last ride of the night when the fuse went.

He said he had an emergency procedure ready to use when the ride came to a halt. "The car went to the top and the weights were at the bottom," he said. "We used ropes to pull the weights in at the bottom, so making it heavier at the top. And the car came slowly down."

Ten people were needed to pull on the ropes and the fairground riders were brought back down to earth.

Mr Farrell said he didn't think the four people trapped at the top were frightened by the experience.

He said: "There were some teenagers, and they were having a laugh and a joke, but the others were not so pleased. I work with this 24/7, every day of the week, so I know it very well."

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said Health and Safety officers would be making enquiries following the malfunction.

The fair is running at Monkton Park until Saturday.