Alton Towers owner faces prosecution over rollercoaster crash

The owner of theme park Alton Towers will face prosecution over a serious crash which left five people with serious injuries, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced.

Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd, which owns the park, will have to appear at North Staffordshire Justice Centre in April.

Two female passengers had to go through leg amputations after their carriage collided with a stationary carriage on the same track in June last year.

The HSE added that the company is 'responsible for Alton Towers and under health and safety law is responsible for managing the risks created by the operation of the theme park’s rides'.

Merlin Entertainments had announced a slight rise in annual profits earlier this morning, despite a significant fall in visitor numbers to the Staffordshire park.

The group - which also owns attractions such as Legoland, Madame Tussauds and the London Eye - said it saw pre-tax profit rise of 0.3% to £250 million in the year to December 26 compared with a year ago.