Alton Towers' Smiler ride leaves people hanging in mid air Published duration 24 July 2019

media caption Alton Towers' Smiler ride stoppage leaves people hanging in mid-air

Visitors to Alton Towers were left hanging 100ft in the air when a rollercoaster stopped mid-way round the track.

Eyewitnesses said the Smiler ride stopped shortly after 17:30 BST on Tuesday, leaving people suspended for about 20 minutes.

Alton Towers apologised and offered compensation to those affected.

The Staffordshire theme park tweeted later on Tuesday evening to say the ride was up and running again.

The Smiler has sensors along the length of the track which will stop the ride as a precaution if any problems are detected.

Vicky Balch, then 19, and Leah Washington, then 17, each lost a leg in the crash.

The theme park made a number of safety changes to the ride afterwards.