The young deer was decapitated after straying on the tracks of the Ultimate rollercoaster [Getty/ Ross Parry ]

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Horrified passengers aboard The Ultimate at Lightwater Valley theme park got more than the twists and turns they hoped for when the ride smashed in to the curious woodland creature on Saturday morning.

The young deer was reportedly decapitated instantly by the family ride, which is 1.7m long and hurtles through deep and dark acres of forest at speeds of up to 50mph.

A father-of-two from Howden in Darlington, who did not wish to be named, said he could hear "screaming."

He told the Northern Echo: "I knew there was something wrong.

"There was a bit of screaming but not too much. The maintenance men came and seemed to turn it off and on again and then it was fine."

The ride at the park near Ripon, North Yorkshire, was closed to the public for 30 minutes as workers carried out checks following the accident at around 11.15am.