Alton Towers plans top secret rollercoaster at theme park

TOP-SECRET plans are being drawn up for the most expensive ride yet at Alton Towers.

The new ride is set to open for the 2013 tourist season and will top the £15 million spent building the Th13teen ride which opened last year.

News of the ride comes as Alton Towers revealed it attracted more than 2.7 million visitors last year – a 17-year record.

General manager Ian Crabbe told The Sentinel: "We are going to be working extremely hard to make sure this ride is the only one of its kind in the world.

"It will draw people in from across the UK."

About 2,700 people are employed at Alton Towers. More than 120 of them have been preparing the park for the new season.

New attractions for this season include:

An entertainment show devised by Mike Stock, of Stock, Aitken and Waterman fame;

BMX stunt riders;

Britain's biggest fireworks display outside of London's New Year show;

Opening the theme park for Christmas celebrations for the first time.

Mr Crabbe added: "The really exciting thing for me is our ability to be a successful business.

"It gives me a real buzz that we can employ 2,700 people, especially when you look at a third year of recession.

"Last year was the most successful year we have had since 1994 when Nemesis was launched.

"This business has grown over the last two-and-a-half years and we have seen an increase of between 300,000 and 400,000 visitors."

Many of the 2,700 Alton Towers workers live in North Staffordshire.

Student Hayley McNutt, aged 20, of Stoke, who is starting her first season, said: "I've been excited. I'm doing face-painting for children, so I've been doing a lot of practising."

Amy Plant, aged 18, of Cheadle, said: "This is the second year I've worked here and I really enjoyed it last year.

"I love Alton Towers anyway. Rita, Queen of Speed is my favourite ride."

Kirsty Beattie, aged 31, of Blythe Bridge, who visited the park on Saturday for the first time in more than 10 years, said: "I've been looking forward to going on Th13teen and Air."

Results

Want to offer readers a discount voucher? Claim your listing on our business directory