WATCH: Fire Services work to rescue passengers stuck on Big Wheel

Around 20 people were rescued from the Big Wheel at the Christmas Market in Eyre Square, which became stuck earlier this evening.

The northern side of Eyre Square was closed from around 6.30pm as rescue workers used extendable ‘cherry picker’ ladders in an attempt to reach the people in pods at the top of the 32-metre high ‘The View’ Ferris wheel to provide them with blankets and food.

The wheel had to be manually wound down so that people could exit the pods at ground level.

Hundreds of onlookers have gathered to watch the incident, which occurred shortly after the official opening of this year’s Christmas Market.