Inspectors examine the crashed lift at Scarborough

Tourist chiefs in Scarborough today pledged to identify what caused a popular cliff lift to hit the buffers while carrying a full load of elderly passengers.

Scarborough Borough Council's chief executive, John Trebble, said: "The safety of the cliff lift is of paramount importance to the council and a thorough investigation of the installation will now be carried out before the lift is used again.

"This could take several weeks, but however long it takes we are determined that the lift will not be used again until we can trace the fault and rectify it."

Mr Trebble described the incident involving the South Bay Cliff Lift, which happened at about 7.30pm yesterday, as "very regrettable".

He said: "The north car was taking passengers down to the Spa whilst the south car, travelling in the opposite direction, was empty at the time.

"As both cars were approaching their docking position, they failed to slow down during the last six metres as they normally would do, for a reason as yet unexplained, and they were stopped by the buffers."

Mr Trebble said lift staff were on hand to give aid to the 24 passengers inside the lift at the time.

A total of 11 people were taken to Scarborough Hospital for a check-up and an 83-year-old woman who suffered minor injuries was detained over night for observation.

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