Horror-theme ride hits a hitch (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Horror-theme ride hits a hitch

10:36am Friday 13th March 2009 in

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A brand new horror-themed rollercoaster was brought to a premature halt at a special celebrity preview.

Thorpe Park's £13.5 million Saw ride broke down before it officially opens to the public on Saturday, a park spokesman said.

He said stars such as Jonathan Ross, who had managed to get to the end of the ride earlier in the evening, had "thoroughly enjoyed" it.

TV and radio presenters Edith Bowman and Dermot O'Leary, and singer Katie Melua were among those who tested their nerves. Reality TV star Chantelle Houghton was not brave enough to face the scary ride and was concerned her breast implants might not cope with the G-force, the spokesman said.

Bosses at the Surrey park said the ride experienced a "temporary shutdown" due to "minor teething problems" at Thursday night's event.

To add to the drama on the adrenaline-fuelled ride, a female member of the public suffered a panic attack. A spokesman for Thorpe Park said an evacuation was carried out and first aid teams helped the woman.

Thorpe Park hopes visitors will flock to have a go on Saw, dubbed as the first ever horror movie themed rollercoaster.

Featuring the world's steepest freefall drop (a 'beyond vertical' drop of 100 degrees from a height of 100ft), it goes upside down and inside out to add to the fear factor.

It is based on the Saw horror films and includes adrenaline-pumping challenges and surprises.