Alton Towers unveils new £16 million fire-themed Wicker Man wooden rollercoaster

Wicker Man: the ride will feature a six-storey flaming structure in what the theme park claims is the first such ride to combine wood and fire
PA
Chloe Chaplain8 January 2018

Alton Towers' new Wicker Man rollercoaster will feature a six-storey flaming structure in what the theme park claims is the first such ride to combine wood and fire.

The theme park on Monday unveiled the theme of the £16 million project, which will include a 2,000 ft track and is the first wooden rollercoaster to be built in the UK for 21 years.

A 57.5ft "wicker man" will appear to burst into flames as thrill-seekers race through the structure three times on a wooden track.

The rollercoaster, which shares its name with the British 1970s classic horror film, starring Christopher Lee, is due to open to visitors this spring.

Ride: The project cost the theme park £16 million
PA

Bradley Wynne, the theme park's creative lead said: "We hope visitors will be blown away by Wicker Man's breath-taking scale whilst the primal essence of the wooden coaster and astonishing effects will leave them delighted, exhilarated and eager to ride again."

Wicker Man official announcement poster (PA)

Alton Towers said "the safety of guests has been paramount" in building the ride, which has involved "rigorous testing and hundreds of training hours for ride operators".

In 2015 the theme park's operator Merlin Attractions was fined £5 million for a "catastrophic failure" of health and safety rules over after the Smiler rollercoaster collision.

Ride: The project cost the theme park £16 million (PA)

Vicky Balch, then 19, and Leah Washington, then 17, could have bled to death from their injuries and each ended up losing a leg after the collision which injured 16 people.

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