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City's big wheel hailed a 'tremendous success'

Andrew Barton
BBC News, Yorkshire
Ken Ferguson A green sign post with seven pointers displaying information about Ripon attractions with the big wheel behind it.Ken Ferguson
Ripon BID said the wheel had created "a real buzz" in the city

A city's new 108ft (33m) ferris wheel has been hailed a "tremendous success" after almost 9,000 people rode on it in three weeks.

The Big Sky Wheel, which closed on Sunday, opened in the centre of Ripon's Market Place on 5 April.

It was the first time the attraction - which offered views of Ripon Cathedral, Fountains Abbey and the White Horse at Kilburn - had been set up in the city.

Lilla Bathurst, manager at Ripon Business Improvement District, said the wheel, in place over the Easter school holidays, had "really put Ripon on the map".

Emily Johnson/BBC A 33m high white big wheel in the market place of a cathedral city on a sunny day.Emily Johnson/BBC
Almost 9,000 people rode on the Ripon Big Sky Wheel over three weeks, officials said

Ms Bathurst said the attraction could be "seen from everywhere" with residents, visitors, and businesses all offering "very positive " and the wheel creating "a fantastic buzz around the city".

"Views from the wheel have been wonderful and it was brilliant over the school holidays, as an activity for parents and grandparents to do," she added.

There was a temporary stop to the wheel's spinning after it became engulfed in smoke when its generator caught fire two days after opening.

It was extinguished using a bucket of water before the fire service arrived.

Tim Dabell, events officer for the parks and grounds team at North Yorkshire Council, said months of preparation had been needed ahead of the wheel's installation, to ensure there was enough space and ground strength in place.

He said: "We've had it in Harrogate as part of the Christmas market offerings, so we thought, why can't we use it all around the district":[]}