Alton Towers charge

The owner of Alton Towers is to be prosecuted over the Smiler rollercoaster crash in which five people were seriously injured.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said Merlin Attractions will appear at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on April 22 to face a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Five people were seriously injured on the ride on June 2, including two women who had legs amputated after their carriage collided with a stationary carriage on the same track.

Neil Craig, head of operations for the HSE in the Midlands, said: “We have today informed Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd that it will be prosecuted for breaching health and safety law.

“This was a serious incident with life-changing consequences for five people. We have conducted a very thorough investigation and consider that there is sufficient evidence and that it is in the public interest to bring a prosecution.”