I went on Goose Fair's biggest ride and it was a head-pounding thriller

Apollo 13 is making its second appearance in the UK and costs £15 a go

My feet feel as though they're throbbing out of my shoes as the cold wind whips my exposed ankles. As I dangle 180 feet above the ground I have a perfect birds-eye view of the Goose Fair crowd and a clear look of the Nottingham skyline.

It's Friday night and I'm at the top of Apollo 13, a ride named after the NASA Moon mission which was aborted after an oxygen tank exploded. Thankfully the crew returned safely to earth - as did I to write this review.

Anticipation grew while at the top as the rest of the ride is boarded at the bottom. Then all of a sudden we're catapulted up, down, round and round.

One second I've got an upside-down panoramic view of the sprawling fair. The next I'm hurtling down towards the Forest Rec car park at 80mph, before lurching back up into the night sky.

More and more tears glaze over my eyes with each spin, and I can't help hoist my arms up for an extra thrill. Apollo 13 is a classic of the fairground ride genre, yet it's much taller than similar rides I've been on, adding to its head-pounding intensity. It also made sure to capitalise on the theme of its namesake by playing a spacey soundtrack and featuring astronaut imagery, including a model of a monkey in a space suit.

Luckily no oxygen tanks were blown, though you'd be forgiven for thinking you heard one when I clocked the £15 ride fee. Apollo 13, which made its first appearance in the UK in Newcastle over the summer, having previously toured fairs across the Middle East and Germany, will be open to riders for the rest of this weekend.

A Goose Fair spokesperson said: "The 180ft tall, 80mph thrill ride is one of the best presented of its kind in the world with its unique space theme. It's already attracted a massive fan base. We can't wait to see this in Nottingham."