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Giant wheel to give bird's eye view of town

Dan Conway Photography Aerial view of the white observation wheel, with Darwen in the backgroundDan Conway Photography
The observation wheel will be in place from 8 February until 2 March

A giant observation wheel, set to open this weekend, will offer a bird's eye view of a Lancashire town - but only for few weeks.

The 35m-high (115ft) big wheel will open in Darwen's Market Square on Saturday, and will be in place until Sunday 2 March.

People can buy tickets to ride in one of the 24 gondolas - one of which is adapted for wheelchairs - and enjoy views across the town, from midday to 20:00 GMT every day until the end of the month.

Councillor Quesir Mahmood, who has responsibility for town centres, hailed the wheel as "a great addition" to the town's sites: "I'm sure the views over to Darwen's beloved Jubilee Tower and beautiful moorland are going to be fantastic."

Turners Butchers Darwen Night-time image of the giant, illuminated ferris wheelTurners Butchers Darwen
The 24-gondola wheel will be in Darwen for a month
Dan Conway Photography Ariel view of Darwen town centre with the observation wheel to the right, Darwen Tower and a church clock tower to the left, and the moors in the distance.Dan Conway Photography
The wheel, temporarily erected in Market Square, stand 35m-high (115ft)

"It's certainly going to be an exciting spectacle in the town," said Mahmood, describing a ride on the wheel as "a perfect memory-making opportunity".

"I hope it's going to bring more local residents and visitors into Darwen, who can see what the town has to offer, particularly over the February half-term holiday.

"Fingers crossed for some clear skies."

A trip on the wheel will cost £6 for an adult ticket and £4 for a child ticket; a family ticket (two adults and two children) will cost £17.

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