Updated 21:45
Around 20 people have been rescued after the big wheel at the Galway Christmas Market stopped turning this evening.
Emergency services were called to the scene and began attempts to free passengers stuck high in cabins using cherry pickers.
The wheel stopped turning soon after the market officially opened in Eyre Square this evening.
Day 1 of the Galway Christmas Market and we got stuck on the wheel pic.twitter.com/XBgrezqnyQ
— Hannah Lambert (@hannahlambert76) November 17, 2017
Gardaí in Galway have said all the passengers are now down safely and, although it was a very cold night to be stuck in the air, there were no injuries.
Gardaí said there were a number of children among the passengers.
The Big Wheel at the Christmas Market in Galway is stuck ... with people on it pic.twitter.com/pyoFTEOBr4
— Enda Cunningham (@endacunningham) November 17, 2017
A large crowd of spectators gathered as the fire service worked to free the trapped passengers.
Galway City Councillor Pádraig Conneely, is calling for a full investigation into the incident:
“I was down there,” he said. "There is a major problem with it and I am very disappointed."“I understand there was to be a certificate with that big wheel.
“There are health and safety issues; the fire brigade are there trying to take people off and having a difficulty in taking them off.
“I will be calling for a full investigation.”
