28 rescued from theme park ride

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

Bosses at the Alton Towers theme park near Stoke-on-Trent said unidentified gremlins brought the Corkscrew ride to a halt.

A park spokesman said ladders were used to rescue the party of children, teenagers and adults.

He said: "The train set off as normal but failed to make a complete circuit. The train stopped at a low point and people were left stranded about 10-12ft off the ground.

"They were all brought down safety using ladders in about 90 minutes and no-one was injured in the incident."

The spokesman said it was the first time in the ride's 21-year history that it had broken down with people on board.

He said: "We have had problems with it when starting in the cold but nothing like this. We are looking into what caused it."

The spokesman said all those stranded were given passes to jump the queues on other rides or were offered tickets for a future day at the Staffordshire attraction.