Group of 40 stuck up Blackpool Tower

Guests to Blackpool Tower were stuck for almost an hour as high winds prevented them from getting down this afternoon

Around 40 visitors to the 380ft Walk of Faith were kept at the top of the Tower, which sports a glass floor looking straight down to the Blackpool Promenade, for 40 minutes at around 2pm today.

One visitor posted a picture on Twitter claiming he had been stuck at the top of the Tower for 50 minutes.

He wrote: "Solitary confinement I've been here 50 mins.

"I'm stranded at the top of Blackpool Tower. The lifts have broke and can't get down. If anybody is out there please get help."

However a spokesman at the Tower told the Gazette that the lifts had not broken and the guests had not been stranded.

Kenny Mew, general manager of The Blackpool Tower, said: “Our guests are now able to enjoy the spectacular views from The Blackpool Tower Eye in winds of up to 50/mph after we invested in engineering work to replace the lift ropes, which previously could only withstand winds of 40/mph.

“Today, the weather was particularly changeable and unfortunately wind speed increased to 60m/ph whilst a group were already at the top having gone up whilst the wind speed was lower.

“Our guests were informed that staff would have to wait until the wind speed dropped to a safe level before they could operate the lifts again which resulted in a short wait for around 40 guests.

“Once it was safe to do so, all guests were brought back down in the lift to continue their visit around The Blackpool Tower.”