Drayton Manor theme park visitors stranded 120ft in the air after Shockwave rollercoaster breaks down

Visitors forced to walk down hundreds of metal steps after carriages froze while climbing to top of ride

Drayton Manor theme park in Staffordshire. (SWNS)

Families were left stranded 120ft in the air after a rollercoaster broke down at a popular theme park.

The Shockwave ride was evacuated at Drayton Manor theme park in Staffordshire after it malfunctioned at about 10.35am on Saturday.

Thrillseekers were forced to walk down hundreds of metal steps after the carriages froze as they climbed to the top of the 53mph ride.

Lesley Davin, 54, of Sutton Coldfield, Staffordshire, who was visiting the theme park with her two granddaughters on Saturday said Shockwave was closed for most of the morning.

She said: “They had to make the people on the ride walk down the metal steps that run alongside the carriage. It must have been terrifying as it’s so high up.

“The girls wanted to go on it today but it hasn’t been open most of the morning and I’m not sure I want to let them now.

“You think of what happened at Alton Towers and you begin to fear the worst when rides stop working. It’s quite an old rollercoaster now.

“Several other rides haven’t been in operation either so it’s been a pretty disappointing day so far, to be honest.”

In a statement William Bryan, managing director of Drayton Manor Park, said: “Shockwave experienced a temporary stoppage on the lift and guests were evacuated.

“At no point was guest safety compromised.

The Shockwave rollercoaster at Drayton Manor theme park in Staffordshire. (SWNS)

“A number of other rides were also temporarily closed.

“The Bounty is also out of operation today for planned, routine maintenance work.

“We sincerely apologise to our visitors for any inconvenience caused and stress that the safety of our guests is our priority.”

The £4m rollercoaster is one of Europe’s only stand up rides and is described as being “the ultimate for speed demons and adrenaline junkies”.

The theme park states on its website: “This exhilarating, white-knuckle ride opened in 1994, and is the only stand-up roller coaster with a zero-gravity roll.

“Shockwave powers you through twisting corkscrews, loops and bends – so brace yourself and wait for the green light to experience the ride of your life.”