Giant wheel to give bird's eye view of town
![Aerial view of the white observation wheel, with Darwen in the background](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/966/cpsprodpb/7582/live/aa1e2c30-e53b-11ef-b52b-2f7aceb40199.jpg)
The observation wheel will be in place from 8 February until 2 March
- Published
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."
![Night-time image of the giant, illuminated ferris wheel](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/967/cpsprodpb/64e0/live/4edf84f0-e53a-11ef-b52b-2f7aceb40199.jpg)
The 24-gondola wheel will be in Darwen for a month
![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.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/3b29/live/cbccc300-e53b-11ef-a319-fb4e7360c4ec.jpg)
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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