Amusement park ride worker dies

An amusement park worker has died after he became trapped on a cable car ride in Merseyside.

The 59-year-old man caught his shoulder in the ride while carrying out a daily safety check.

It happened at the Pleasureland park in Southport at 1000 BST on Wednesday.

A Pleasureland spokeswoman said the Sky Ride, which is shaped like a gondola, would be closed while a Health and Safety Executive inquiry was held.

Four stranded

The amusement park and police have also begun investigations into the accident.

The spokeswoman said: "At this moment in time our thoughts are with his family."

The man was trapped for 45 minutes, about 30ft in the air, while firefighters used cutting and lifting equipment to free him.

The park was open at the time of the accident but the area has now been cordoned off.

In April four people were left stranded when the same ride broke down.

Firefighters took an hour to free the customers, who were not injured.

Pleasureland blamed an electrical fault for the breakdown.