Fresh incident at Alton Towers’ troubled Smiler ride

STAFFORDSHIRE theme park Alton Towers’ Smiler rollercoaster has again caused headaches for its owners after the ride had to be closed when debris fell from one of its carriages onto the track.

More than 30 people were stranded on the ride when staff took the decision to shut it down on safety grounds yesterday.

The park cannot afford to take chances with the public’s safety following last year’s accident on the ride which left two people having to have leg amputations and three others with serious injuries.

The park’s owners are due back in court later this month for the outcome of a health and safety prosecution in relation to last year’s accident. It is likely they will face a heavy fine.

The park said people had been evacuated from the ride within 30 minutes. It said the incident was thought to have occurred when a piece of rubber came away from one of the carriages.

After the ride was inspected for damage it reopened later in the afternoon.