A girl suffered a broken leg after a fairground ride came off its hinges and crashed into her during a family day out.
Five-year-old Tayla Sanders-Horton was taken to hospital following the incident on Saturday at a travelling funfair in Seacombe.
The youngster had been standing near the ride when one of its cars came off the brackets and headed straight for her but luckily her great-grandmother pulled her from the full force of the disaster.
However Tayla was left with a broken leg and her granddad, Mike Sanders, is now warning other families against travelling fairs.
He said: “It could have been far, far worse if my mother hadn’t grabbed out of the way so we are very lucky that she only came away with a broken leg. There was quite a few of us out for the day and we’d had a good couple of hours down there when it happened.
“A few members of fair staff were doing some maintenance work on the ride when the seat flew off. No-one was on it at the time but all quarter of a tonne of it came towards Tayla.
“I was in complete shock looking after her and she was in absolute hysterics but the ride continued to go and it was us who had to call for an ambulance. We‘ve learned a lesson not to go anywhere near these type of fairs now as they’re just too risky.”
Police were called to the scene and the ride was closed but the fair was back open for business the following day.
And Tayla’s mum, Nikki Sanders, said her daughter is now recovering at home but is still upset about her ordeal.
She said: “Tayla gets very emotional when we talk about it because it’s difficult for her to get her head round. We are so thankful that the car only hit her leg because it’s horrible to think what could have happened.”
The Health and Safety Executive has now launched an investigation into the incident and the fair, Mega Value Fun Parks, has moved on to Greater Manchester.
Organiser Alan Cowie said: “The Health and Safety Executive have been and inspected the ride and we are now waiting for their conclusions.
“We are very sorry that the little girl was hurt and hope she makes a quick recovery.
"The fairground was due to finish on Sunday and has now set up in Rochdale.”
Five-year-old Tayla Sanders-Horton was taken to hospital following the incident on Saturday at a travelling funfair in Seacombe.
The youngster had been standing near the ride when one of its cars came off the brackets and headed straight for her but luckily her great-grandmother pulled her from the full force of the disaster.
However Tayla was left with a broken leg and her granddad, Mike Sanders, is now warning other families against travelling fairs.
He said: “It could have been far, far worse if my mother hadn’t grabbed out of the way so we are very lucky that she only came away with a broken leg. There was quite a few of us out for the day and we’d had a good couple of hours down there when it happened.
“A few members of fair staff were doing some maintenance work on the ride when the seat flew off. No-one was on it at the time but all quarter of a tonne of it came towards Tayla.
“I was in complete shock looking after her and she was in absolute hysterics but the ride continued to go and it was us who had to call for an ambulance. We‘ve learned a lesson not to go anywhere near these type of fairs now as they’re just too risky.”
Police were called to the scene and the ride was closed but the fair was back open for business the following day.
And Tayla’s mum, Nikki Sanders, said her daughter is now recovering at home but is still upset about her ordeal.
She said: “Tayla gets very emotional when we talk about it because it’s difficult for her to get her head round. We are so thankful that the car only hit her leg because it’s horrible to think what could have happened.”
The Health and Safety Executive has now launched an investigation into the incident and the fair, Mega Value Fun Parks, has moved on to Greater Manchester.
Organiser Alan Cowie said: “The Health and Safety Executive have been and inspected the ride and we are now waiting for their conclusions.
“We are very sorry that the little girl was hurt and hope she makes a quick recovery.
"The fairground was due to finish on Sunday and has now set up in Rochdale.”