Fairground goers had to be lowered to the ground on ropes today after crying children spent two hours stuck in the air, when a “wheel flew off” a rollercoaster.

Twenty-one people were trapped on the Crazy Train ride, at Gulliver’s World in Warrington, which malfunctioned at around 1pm.

Parents on the ground were distraught at being unable to reach their offspring and some were angry that park staff and emergency services took until 3.35pm to extract everyone from the carriages of the small attraction.

One mother, whose seven-year-old was among those stuck on the ride, told the Liverpool Echo: “The wheel just flew off and the ride stopped.

“Staff had no idea what to do and flapped about - parents had to call the emergency services. Children are crying and screaming - including my daughter - it’s just awful.”