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A petition to get Kay Burley SACKED from Sky News after she conducted a bruising interview with the boss of Alton Towers has now hit a staggering 40,000 signatures.

The Change.org petition is now less than 10,000 signatures away from 50,000 following outrage from viewers at the veteran news anchor's handling of an interview with Merlin Entertainments chief executive Nick Varney.

After signing their names, a number of people also posted comments.

Lee Cross write: "I have recently watched the interview in question and I am disgusted by the lack of professionalism shown by the Sky interviewer and the flagrant misinterpretation of the answers given."

Emma Stylianou said: "I am disgusted that she was allowed to speak to someone for that long in that manner. Journalist or not, this is the kind of attitude that causes serious harm to, not just the guest, but everyone concerned. Absolutely shocking! SKY should be ashamed!"

(Image: Sky News)

On the Change.org page, a statement reads: "Kay Burley should be sacked after the awful way she conducted her interview of Alton Towers CEO Nick Varney.

"This interviewing is an embarrassment to Sky News, she was rude and patronising not giving him chance to explain and when he did get chance to explain she continued to dismiss his comments and further trying to damage the company thinking that she was clever.

"She also tried to get him to give highly confidential private information on the casualties.

"He didn't try to shift responsibility he knew enormously what this event did, shut the park and is fully investigating the incident working with authorities.

"What happened at Alton Towers was awful and it shouldn't have happened but what happened at your Sky studio was awful too and shouldn't of happened, now you need to put this right, act professional like the CEO did, issue an apology and sack Kay Burley."

The Sky News veteran was grilling Mr Varney over the horrific accident that left a 17-year-old girl needing her left leg amputated above the knee.

Three other young adults were also seriously injured in the accident on board The Smiler ride - which has remained closed since the accident.

The highly-charged interview has also received more than 1,100 complaints.

The Sky News anchor asked a series of tough questions to Merlin Entertainment chief executive Nick Varney over last week's roller coaster crash which left four people seriously injured.

But many feel the interview about the park's safety procedures went too far - and TV regulator Ofcom confirmed it had received more than 1,100 complaints.

Varney was grilled by the veteran Sky News anchor over safety procedures on The Smiler at Alton Towers this morning.

(Image: PA)

As Mr Varney spoke about safety procedures, Burley cut in: “Let me just interrupt you there if I may, if you’re happy that they were safe, why were people seriously injured?”

She also told him to remember “it’s an interview rather than just a statement”.

When Burley asked if the ride was being dismantled, he started with: “I would imagine..”, but she interrupted him, saying: “Don’t you know?”

She added: "Everyone is particularly focused on what you’re doing at Merlin at the moment.”

Varney refused to comment on whether one of the victims had lost a limb and when he expressed his sorrow about the horrific incident, she said: “Why not? Sir, sir, I’m sure they are not interested in your sympathy at this stage.

“They went to have a fantastic day and they have potentially lost a limb. You won’t tell us if they have or not.”

(Image: PA)

Varney said it was personal information he could not release.

Burley retorted: “I’m sure sir they’re more appalled at he fact that the safety measures weren’t adequate.”

Her take-no-prisoners attitude angered some Twitter users.

Thomas Hearn wrote: "Miss, if I might just interrupt you there, That wasn't an interview, just pure rudeness."

Lana Freemantle also criticised the presenter, tweeting: "So unprofessional. Nick Varney handled it very well considering."

However, Burley was not without her supporters. One wrote: "Great work by Kay once again, asking the hard-hitting questions."

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Mr Varney also revealed the entire site had been taken over by the Health and Safety Executive - which was dismantling part of the ride for the investigation - in the interview.

He said: "At the moment we don't have a definite conclusion (on what caused the accident. A number of individual and unique circumstances that led to this."

He added: "We have entertained hundreds of millions of people at our parks very safely but we never want something like this to happen again.

"We have put in another level of additional safety measures across all of our parks.

(Image: PA)

"Two rides at Chessington are currently suspended because it will take in a few days before we can bring them up to our new additional level of safety protocol. It does not mean they were unsafe before.

"I want to be able to look everybody in the eye and promise them they are safe."

Leah Washington, 17, from Barnsley had a leg amputated and three others were seriously injured following the crash last week.

Merlin Entertainment announced it is closing four of its attractions across three of its theme parks following the horrific accident at Alton Towers.

The Smiler at Alton Towers and Saw at Thorpe Park have both been closed "for the foreseeable future", while Dragon's Fury and Rattlesnake at Chessington World of Adventures have both been withdrawn until new safety protocols have been implemented.

The rides are some of the three parks' most famous and popular rides, while The Smiler is the newest and cost a staggering £18 million.