Exclusive behind the scenes access as Alton Towers gears up for 2015 season

Final inspections are taking place on rides at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, ahead of the theme park opening for the summer season this weekend.

Many people think that when the attraction closes every November that all the staff go home, with the rides simply switched off.

In fact a major maintenance program swings into action, with all the rides serviced and checked over the five months when the public are nowhere to be seen.

But what goes on at Alton Towers when the gates are closed for five months?

Alton Towers shut down in numbers:

Spare parts are also brought in from France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and the USA. Another big project tackled this year, was the installation of two kilometres of new fencing in the Grade 1 listed gardens.

Behind the scenes at the country's most visited theme park, staff have been busily working to get things ready for 2015.

One thousand two hundred fixed term seasonal staff are taken on at Alton Towers each year, adding to the 1,000 employees who work full time all year round.

Two of the park's newest recruits are Millie Lawton and Josh Wilton. Both dubbed 'Ride Hosts', they work on one of the park's most popular rides 'The Smiler'

Part of their job includes climbing to the highest parts of the ride in case anything goes wrong.

The Smiler was launched in 2013, but did have some teething problems in its inaugural year. Due to launch at the end of May, it was delayed by a week because of technical problems.

Then in July, the £18m ride was closed after reports of a bolt falling from the ride. Finally in November, guide wheels came off one of the coaster's cars while it was at the highest point.

Read more: A scary opening season for Alton Towers' Smiler ride

But after a trouble free 2014, the technical team say they were 'teething problems', and the world-first roller coaster is now fixed as a firm favourite among staff.

Some of the rides at Alton Towers do take more looking after than others though.

New for 1994, millions of pounds was invested building the Nemesis, making it the most expensive roller coaster in Britain.

Now 21 years old, the repair regime gets longer every year, but Alton Towers technical director says he's convinced there's still at least 10 years left in the alien inspired roller coaster yet.

Those staff who have been working flat out for five months to get the rides ready for action, say their graft is all worth it when the park comes to life again in March.

So with final safety checks done, and vital maintenance complete, Alton Towers is nearly ready for the 2015 season.

With the weather getting warmer, the migration begins, as tens of thousands of theme park lovers descend on the theme park.

But without the white knuckle winter work of its Staffordshire staff, the thrills and spills those visitors all expect, would simply not be possible.