SHOCK AND ROLL
The Big One Blackpool Pleasure Beach: Britain’s biggest rollercoaster breaks down with riders stranded near 235ft top
BRITAIN's biggest rollercoaster ground to a halt during high winds this week.
Terrified riders had to be escorted down from the 235ft Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach on Tuesday because of adverse weather.
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Staff guided stranded passengers to safety down the 400 steps at around 2.50pm.
Photos appear to show them gripping the handrail of the narrow red emergency escape route.
A spokesperson for Blackpool Pleasure Beach said: "At 2.50pm on Tuesday April 11, Blackpool Pleasure Beach stopped the Big One train on the ride’s lift hill due to sudden changes in weather conditions.
"Guests on the ride were reassured and escorted from the ride by Blackpool Pleasure Beach staff.
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"Due to high gusts of wind the Big One rollercoaster closed for the remainder of the day."
The Met Office forecast strong gusts in parts of the UK this week, with speeds of up to 70mph predicted in Blackpool on Tuesday.
Storm Noa was officially named on Wednesday, when forecasters recorded 96mph winds on the Isle of Wight.
The Big One, which has a maximum speed of 85mph and lasts three minutes, opened to the public in 1994.
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At the time, it was the tallest and steepest rollercoaster in the world.
The titles are now held by Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, and TMNT Shellraiser at American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
But it remains the biggest in the UK, ahead of Stealth at Thorpe Park, Surrey, and The Odyssey at Fantasy Island, Skegness, Lincolnshire.
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