Alton Towers to shed up to 70 jobs in wake of Smiler crash

The Staffordshire theme park, whose operator Merlin was fined £5m in September over the rollercoaster horror, said it expected to make between 60 and 70 redundancies ahead of next year's season.

Two teenagers - Vicky Balch, then 19, and Leah Washington, then 17 - each lost a leg in the collision in June last year which "changed the lives of some of those injured in the most dramatic way".

The horror crash also left three others seriously injured, including Wednesbury mother Chanda Chauhan.

Judge Michael Chambers QC said it had been a 'needless and avoidable' accident.

Stafford Crown Court heard that the victims had watched with "disbelief and horror" before ploughing into an empty carriage on the track, with the impact likened by the prosecution to a 90mph car crash.

The company was fined after the court heard that an engineer "felt pressure" to get Smiler back into service after it developed a fault shortly before the devastating crash.

Today, Alton Towers spokeswoman Liz West said: "As part of Alton Towers' continued recovery we have been looking at ways to improve our operating model.

"A detailed review of operations has been undertaken across the business to seek further efficiencies and increase flexibility. As a result of this review, Alton Towers Resort has today confirmed that it expects to make between 60-70 redundancies ahead of the 2017 season.

"Alton Towers will work closely with all those affected in order to support them through the consultation process and any subsequent requirement for alternative employment and job search activities.

"This was an incredibly difficult proposal to make and it has not been taken lightly. However, we are committed to the long term development of the Resort and believe that this action now, together with a continuous programme of investment, will ensure its future growth, which is so vital to the local economy."

In July, Merlin racked up another £22 million loss at its Resort Theme Parks business in the wake of the Smiler accident.

The company said visitor numbers were still 'significantly' down at Alton Towers and revenues across the theme parks business, which includes Thorpe Park and Warwick Castle, was down seven per cent to £104m.