Firefighters rescue 27 people trapped on rollercoaster for three hours

Firefighters have rescued 27 people who were stuck on a rollercoaster for up to three hours.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to the Wipeout ride at Pleasurewood Hills in Lowestoft at 13:36 BST.

An eyewitness described what appeared to be a power cut affecting multiple rides at the attraction, and video footage showed the moment the carriages came to a stop about 15m (49ft) in the air.

Pleasurewood Hills said it was "incredibly grateful for the way [the riders] handled" the situation and to their families for their "understanding and patience".

"We appreciate that being stuck on a ride is not something anyone expects when visiting us."

Park visitor Richard Lines said he was on another ride close to Wipeout, when a power cut appeared to affect multiple rides.

Lines said he saw a worker subsequently tending to the ride, which was stationary, and this moment can be seen in video footage shared with the BBC.

The carriages then begin moving again, but within seconds, they can be seen slowly rolling back and forth, before coming to a standstill.

Lines said the fire service used an aerial ladder to free the passengers one-by-one.

"You feel sorry for the ones that were either at the front or the back who were up there for a good three hours - which is a long time," said Lines, from Wymondham in Norfolk, who was visiting with his two children.

The fire service said by 17:10 they had rescued all 27 passengers and that no-one was injured.