The UK’s first virtual reality rollercoaster, Galactica, came to a halt yesterday leaving passengers stranded high above the ground for around 30 minutes.

Six Flags has announced a partnership with Samsung that will see park-goers at nine locations given the chance to experience a roller coaster in virtual reality.

Britain’s most disappointing tourist attraction is to be dismantled and sent to Calais to be shelter for migrants, creator Banksy has revealed.

What’s the definition of serendipity? Being randomly selected as winner from thousands of entries to a draw for tickets to a crunch World Cup rugby match where your son, Paul O’Connell, is team captain.

Merlin Entertainments said it might be another two years before visitor numbers at its Alton Towers theme park recover to previous levels following a roller coaster crash in June which hit summer trade and took a chunk out of profits.

Elusive artist Banksy’s theme park ‘Dismaland’ has been revealed at a derelict seaside lido — featuring Jimmy Savile, migrant boats, and an anarchist training camp.

A Trinity graduate is due home after a US robbery jail term; 185 new jobs have been announced in Dublin and Wexford; and Facebook is to build a new €200m data centre in Ireland. Just some of the latest and most read stories on irishexaminer.com.

Only half of GPs sign up for U-6s scheme; One man is still critical after an industrial accident which killed another in Dublin; and travellers are refusing to move in to a €5m facility in Cork. These are some of the latest and most read news stories on irishexaminer.com this morning.

A 17-year-old girl whose leg was amputated after a rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers initially needed a machine to keep her alive in intensive care, her brother said.

The family of a 17-year-old girl injured in a rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers have thanked medics for saving her life after she had one of her legs amputated.

Alton Towers will reopen to the public in England today after shutting its gates following a rollercoaster crash which saw four people seriously injured.

An 18-year-old textile design student and his girlfriend have been named as among those injured when a record-breaking rollercoaster crashed at Alton Towers in England.

Concerns that up to 1,000 children may have been “trafficked” to the US from the Tuam were raised in 2012, a college student who got seven A1s in the Leaving Certificate believes the system is stacked against the students and O' Connell leaves Munster with IRFU blessing. These are some of the latest and most read news stories on irishexaminer.com this morning.

£18m rollercoaster with 14 loops has been shut on two previous occasions because of safety concerns

DINE OUT IN BELFAST FOR OCTOBER RESTAURANT WEEK

Saturdays star Frankie Sandford has joined up with mental health charity Mind, only months after admitting her own struggle with depression.

Hotel chain Travelodge was thrown a lifeline today as landlords and creditors backed a controversial rescue deal.

Looking for an Easter getaway that won’t break the bank? Disneyland Paris is celebrating its 20th birthday, and Pól Ó Conghaile has more egg-cellent offers for seasonal trips at home or away

GET TO ALTON TOWERS BY HOOK OR BY SPOOK

TAXES now account for as much as 40% of travel tariffs. Classic Resorts are offering a 10-night package to Thailand for an inclusive €1,374 per person sharing, with three nights at the Bangkok Marriott Resort and Spa and a week in Hua Hin at the Anantara.

IT’S good to see a company being proactive rather than reactive. Irish tour operator Falcon Holidays has moved to reassure holidaymakers that peace of mind is part of the package with their ‘ash’ guarantee.

A schoolgirl was killed in a coach crash today as Britain was blasted by “absolutely atrocious” snowstorms.

A group of schoolchildren were seriously injured in a coach crash as severe winter storms battered the UK – just four days after the start of British Summer Time.

Several schoolchildren were seriously injured today after the bus they were travelling in crashed in “horrendous” weather conditions.

SAYIT Travel and Kumuka Worldwide have launched a 49-day overland tour through South America, with the adventure departing from Rio the day after Rio Carnival. The bespoke tour has one departure only – February 17, 2010.

THE Malév summer timetable features three new cities and additional services on established routes.

The entertainment group which runs the London Eye, Alton Towers and Madame Tussauds added the London Aquarium to its portfolio today.

AT A time when many airlines are withdrawing from such schemes, Irish Ferries says it has renewed its commitment to its frequent traveller programme.

The property assets of some of the UK’s most famous tourist attractions including Alton Towers and London waxworks Madame Tussauds were sold today by their private equity owner for £622m.

THE Great Escape Expo is on today and tomorrow at the RDS in Dublin, and it’s aimed at anyone planning to take time out or move abroad for a longer spell.

JERSEY Tourism is seeking teams for its three-day Jersey Challenge sports endurance event on October 1.

An English engineering firm dating back more than 200 years was snapped up for £700m (€1.03bn) today by the Dubai-based owner of Madame Tussauds.

Madame Tussauds and a host of major theme parks were sold today in a £800m (€1.1bn) deal with an investment firm controlled by the government of Dubai.

Workers at the Cadbury World visitor centre were today staging a 24-hour strike in a dispute over pay.

IT was like a scene from an action-packed war movie.

THREE adults and three children were killed yesterday and several others seriously injured as gales swept across England and Wales.

UK leisure group Tussaud’s expanded into Germany today through the acquisition of one of Europe’s leading theme parks.

Twenty-eight people have been rescued from a theme park ride after it broke down.