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| Witch's Hat playground ride returns to Wicksteed Park | Witch's Hat playground ride returns to Wicksteed Park |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| A playground ride which was phased out because it was too dangerous has returned to a park, with a new design. | |
| The Witch's Hat was invented almost 100 years ago by Charles Wicksteed for his Park in Kettering, Northamptonshire. | The Witch's Hat was invented almost 100 years ago by Charles Wicksteed for his Park in Kettering, Northamptonshire. |
| But what was believed to be the last of the 12ft-high ride in Britain was removed from the playground in the mid-1980s. | But what was believed to be the last of the 12ft-high ride in Britain was removed from the playground in the mid-1980s. |
| This new version has a mechanism which keeps the ride spinning but prevents crushing into a central pole. | This new version has a mechanism which keeps the ride spinning but prevents crushing into a central pole. |
| Also known as an ocean wave, it is a conical swing balanced on a central pole which oscillates unpredictably. | Also known as an ocean wave, it is a conical swing balanced on a central pole which oscillates unpredictably. |
| In a report written in 2011, the Children's Play Advisory Service said the original rides were removed because they "had a high risk of inflicting lethal injury". | In a report written in 2011, the Children's Play Advisory Service said the original rides were removed because they "had a high risk of inflicting lethal injury". |
| This version made by Wicksteed Playgrounds, also started by Charles Wicksteed, is the first of its kind. | This version made by Wicksteed Playgrounds, also started by Charles Wicksteed, is the first of its kind. |
| Charlie Howard, of Wicksteed Playgrounds, said: "The Witch's Hat has been brought into the 21st Century with advanced engineering making it as safe a structure as it is exciting." | Charlie Howard, of Wicksteed Playgrounds, said: "The Witch's Hat has been brought into the 21st Century with advanced engineering making it as safe a structure as it is exciting." |
| Oliver Wicksteed, chairman of the Wicksteed Charitable Trust, and Charles' grandson said: "Bringing back the Witch's Hat is all about giving children the chance to enjoy good, old-fashioned thrills and spills and have fun." | Oliver Wicksteed, chairman of the Wicksteed Charitable Trust, and Charles' grandson said: "Bringing back the Witch's Hat is all about giving children the chance to enjoy good, old-fashioned thrills and spills and have fun." |
| Deborah Jaffe, author of The History of Toys, said the original version was "great fun". | Deborah Jaffe, author of The History of Toys, said the original version was "great fun". |
| "It's brilliant if they are bringing a safer version back," she said. | "It's brilliant if they are bringing a safer version back," she said. |
| Ms Jaffe said one of the problems before was that the mechanics were not enclosed. | Ms Jaffe said one of the problems before was that the mechanics were not enclosed. |
| The ride is part of a project, funded by a £1.78m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, to preserve Wicksteed Park's history. | The ride is part of a project, funded by a £1.78m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, to preserve Wicksteed Park's history. |