THE HEALTH and Safety Executive are conducting an investigation after a 12-year-old girl fell from a fairground ride at the Arts in the Park festival.

Roxeanne Benson, from Foxstones Crescent, Blackburn, suffered cuts and bruises when she fell from a carriage of the 'Ski-Jump' ride in Corporation Park, Blackburn, on Saturday.

The rotating ride was run by travelling fair Shaw's Amusements, who were awarded a license by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The environmental health department of the council inspected the ride after the accident was reported by Roxeanne's mother Jane on Saturday.

Jane said: "The ride was slowing down and Roxeanne was still at the top. They opened the safety barrier, Roxeanne jerked forward and was thrown out of the carriage.

"She ended up right underneath the ride."

"There was no apology from the young lads working the ride, they only looked as though they were 16 or 17 years-old.

"As soon as the accident had happened they were putting more people on the ride.

"They would just not accept that there had just been an accident.

"I took her to the St John's Ambulance service, where they cleaned her up. She is covered in bruises and has had nose bleeds."

Navenka Shaw, of Shaw Amusements, said: "As far as we are aware, the accident was not serious. She just slipped on the boards that lead off the ride.

"At the time the ride was definitely stationery.

"The lady who owns the ride saw what happened and offered to help.

"I wouldn't think that any of the lads would have been impolite. I know them all well and the lad who was working the ride is a very polite young man."

Ian Bell, of the Health and Safety Executive, said: "Even though they license the event, the council are not responsible for the safety of the rides. I will be going out to inspect the ride, to check that everything was in order.

" We are conducting an investigation and checking all the information that we have about the ride and the firm that ran the fair."