Shoppers watch on as firefighters rescue workman stuck in mid-air while trying to put up Harborough's Christmas lights

The worker was stranded for over two hours after his cherry picker broke down in Church Street at about 2pm.

Scores of shoppers and passers-by stopped by at regular intervals to watch the town centre drama unfold.

Crewmen used a specialist aerial ladder platform vehicle from Leicester to rescue the workman as they worked alongside local firefighters.

The bizarre incident happened just feet from the packed Nags Head pub.

Pub manager Angela Denison said: “People were coming and going all the time to watch – and there was a lot of bemusement going on!

“The poor guy was very cold and very embarrassed.

“But he took it all in good heart – and at least he wasn’t in any real danger.”

She said entertained spectators applauded as the man was finally brought back down to earth.

The disabled cherry picker, operated by Harborough council’s contractors, was finally recovered from Church Street at about 9pm last night.