Latest: Galway Councillor calls for investigation after 20 people trapped on big wheel for three hours

Update: The emergency services have rescued around 20 people from a ferris wheel that got stuck at the Galway Christmas market.

Latest: Galway Councillor calls for investigation after 20 people trapped on big wheel for three hours

Update 9.38pm: The emergency services have rescued around 20 people from a ferris wheel that got stuck at the Galway Christmas market.

The wheel stopped turning at around 6pm this evening and the passengers were brought to safety about three hours later in Eyre Square.

Gardaí say everyone is now down safely, and despite some of the passengers feeling cold, there were no injuries.

Galway City Councillor Pádraig Conneely, is calling for a full investigation.

He said: "I was down there and there is a major problem with it and I am very disappointed because 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 are having difficulty doing so.

"So I would be calling for a full investigation."

Earlier: The big wheel at Galway's Christmas market has stopped turning, leaving a number of trapped on it this evening.

It happened just minutes after the market was officially opened when the festive lights were switched on.

The emergency services were called and they are trying to free the passengers who are stuck in cabins.

The local fire services have been using cherry pickers to reach a number of people and bring them down to safety in Eyre Square.

Traffic is being diverted around the square and a large crowd has gathered to watch the rescue efforts.

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