
The first pictures have been revealed of the brand new £16million Wicker Man-themed roller coaster that is set to open at Alton Towers.

The high-speed attraction is the first wooden roller coaster to be built in the UK for 21 years and will also feature a fire display.

Dramatic images of the new 58ft roller coaster show how riders will be faced with a human face on one side of the attraction and a ram's head on the other, which bursts into flames as the train races through its chest.

The first pictures have been revealed of the brand new £16million Wicker Man-themed roller coaster that is set to open at Alton Towers in the spring

Before boarding Wicker Man, riders will embark on a journey into the world of the Beornen, 'a secret community living in the woods around Alton', the theme park says. Lured in by chanting, rhythmic sounds and unseen eyes watching them, guests will ‘be chosen’ to take part in the cinematic ‘pre-show’ before braving the ride itself.

The Wicker Man ride is set to open in the Spring and a total of 40,000 tonnes of soil has been excavated to build the new attraction.

It took Merlin Entertainment, which owns the theme park in Staffordshire, more than four years to complete the ride

The track spans 2,000 feet and it is all made from naturally treated timber that has been hand-carved specially for the project.

Every ride will house two trains, each made up of six wooden carriages carrying 12 passengers, so that's 24 passengers per ride.

The Wicker Man rollercoaster shares its name with the 1973 classic film, starring Edward Woodward.

It took Merlin Entertainment, which owns the theme park in Staffordshire, more than four years to complete the ride.

In the 1973 film, a police officer travels to Summerisle in Scotland to try and find a missing child, who locals claim never existed.

The plot thickens when pagan rituals and religion are found to be part of the local culture.

Soon his life is at risk when he finds out too much.

Francis Jackson, operations director at Alton Towers Resort, said: 'Wicker Man is Alton Towers' most ambitious project to date and we're really excited to finally reveal our newest thrill attraction to the world.

'We've spent four years creating an experience that is truly spectacular by investing in the latest technologies which combine wood, fire and special effects to give riders the genuine feeling that they will be racing though flames.

'We can't wait for everyone to experience Wicker Man when the park opens this spring.'

The Wicker Man roller coaster sees riders go through the chest of a wooden ram, which soon after bursts into flames

The track spans 2,000 feet and it is all made from naturally treated timber that has been hand-carved specially for the project