Big Dipper pensioners break record

The elderly riders beat the previous best set in Florida in 2001

The world's oldest rollercoaster ride has made history again - thanks to pensioner power.

Thirty-two thrill-seekers - with an average age of 75 - rode on Blackpool's famous Big Dipper to break the world record for the oldest rollercoaster riders.

They beat the previous record which was set in July 2001 on Florida's Hurricane ride and which had an average age of 69.5 years.

The pensioners, most of whom live in Blackpool, also had a combined age of 2,408.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach staged the event to mark National Grandparents Day on 27 September.

Jean Seeley, 83, was the oldest woman on the ride

Jean Seeley, 83, who was the oldest woman on the ride, said: "It was very, very exciting and it was a wee bit nerve-wracking but it was a big achievement and we are happy it's beaten the record."

Geoffrey Thompson, the pleasure beach's managing director, said: "We are used to setting records at the Pleasure Beach.

"Richard Rodriguez set a world record by spending 2000 hours on the Big Dipper, we are the home of Europe's tallest and fastest rollercoaster, the Big One, and we even hold the world record for the most candy floss spun in 90 minutes."

To beat the record, the elderly men and women were raised 70ft high and sped round the track at speeds of around 35mph.

The Big Dipper was built in 1923 and is the oldest rollercoaster in the world.