Riders left dangling from Alton Towers rollercoaster

Bank Holiday visitors to Alton Towers were left terrified after being left hanging upside down from a ride for 30 minutes in the rain.

The Galactica rollercoaster only re-opened in March.

See also: 'Very large fine' warning for Alton Towers

See also: 'Alton Towers Smiler should have stayed closed': crash victim

There were 28 guests on the ride when the incident occurred at around 2pm. The Metro reports that they were hanging in their seats and screaming for help.

A member of the park's staff had to scale the rollercoaster to provide reassurances to those involved.

According to the BBC. the Galactica ride, which used to be called 'Air', is supposed to simulate space travel and those on board were stuck at the highest drop of the ride at 20m.

Reports say that managers at the theme park announced that the ride had been 'flooded' and it would be closed.

Kate Smythe was at the park with her family. She said: "We were standing underneath it when the ride stopped and all the passengers were screaming and crying, they sounded terrified.

"We were told the ride had flooded and I wonder if the electrics shorted in the rain."

Victims took to Twitter to express their fear at what had happened, with one saying: "We were stuck at the top of it for 40 minutes! Still shaking!"

Meanwhile Meg O'Dea said: "So our day at Alton Towers has come to an abrupt halt. Literally. Got stuck on a bloody ride."

The latest incident comes just nine months after the Smiler ride at the park was involved in a crash that left two teenage girls with leg amputations.

The firm that owns Alton Towers is due to appear in court on 20 May after pleading guilty to breaching health and safety laws regarding the Smiler accident.

Judge John McGarva told Merlin Entertainments they face a 'very large fine'.