ALTON Towers staff who helped emergency services rescue day trippers from an horrific bus crash have been honoured by police chiefs.

Sixteen theme park workers were among 50 civilians and police officers given commendations for bravery or going beyond the call of duty at a special ceremony held by Staffordshire Police last night.

Security and paramedic staff based at Alton Towers were some of the first on the scene when a double-decker bus carrying 71 foreign workers back from a day at the park plunged 40ft down an embankment in August.

On arrival they were met with a "devastating" scene of carnage, with one passenger dead and many more suffering serious injuries.

But park staff, many of whom had only been employed for a season, sprang into action and put their first aid skills to the test, staying behind to help the wounded hours after their shifts ended.

Chris Ham, a 51-year-old park security officer, of Cauldon Low, was in the middle of his first aid training when he was called on to use all his skills and initiative.

He said: "We got a shout on the radio there had been an accident and when I got there people were wandering around seriously injured, the bus on its side, others flung into a garden.

"I saw one guy was hanging out of the bus underneath it. A colleague dragged him out and we realised he was dead.

"I didn't think about the emotion of it at the time, but when the scene was cleared and I looked around and saw soft toys and photographs scattered, that was when it hit me."

Tony Lawrence, aged 48, of Newcastle, said the horror of the bus crash eclipsed anything he saw during nine years in the RAF.

Tony, a full-time first responder at the park, said: "I drove some of the staff to the scene and as we approached, I could just see blood everywhere and people with dislocated limbs. There was devastation all around, I've never seen anything like it.

"I didn't know where to start but worked with the paramedics and they asked me to tend to the bus driver. He had serious leg injuries and was in shock, but I just tried to reassure him until he could be taken to hospital.

"It's great the team has been recognised for our work."

The team received certificates from Chief Superintendent Mark Bates at a ceremony at Westwood Golf Club in Leek.

Chief Superintendent Bates said: "It fills me with extraordinary pride to present nearly 20 members of the public with certificates to mark their own public spirited actions.

"The actions of all those involved from Alton Towers were outstanding. It was a remarkable effort and everyone should be applauded for the part they played."