By Nick Humphreys: Staffordshire youngsters have the chance to win their family a holiday to Alton Towers – by creating a new swimming stroke.
The Change4Life Government campaign, which aims to help people get active and eat healthier, has launched the competition as part of their Swim4Life activity.
Families are encouraged to take their children to their nearest pool to try out new ways to swim.
 Kids can be as creative as they like and, once they have come up with their idea, they need to send in a few words describing the new stroke, …

By Lewis Constable: Alton Towers owner Merlin Entertainments has defied the recession by attracting more than three million extra visitors to its Staffordshire theme park.
The company, which also owns Madame Tussauds, reported underlying profits of 17 per cent, equating to £238.6m.
The business was hailed as ‘recession resilient’ rather than ‘recession-proof’ by chief executive Nick Harvey.
The mix and location of the group has been credited for the success of the company.
Over 90 per cent of visitors to Alton Towers have UK residency, whereas 70 per cent of visitors at the London Eye come …

By Ella Darlington: No one will be prosecuted over the Alton Towers coach crash which killed one and injured 69, the Crown Prosecution Service revealed today.
Piotr Wolski, 26, died in the crash on August 18 2008 near Alton Towers theme park. Four of the 69 survivors were injured including the driver.
But after a lengthy inquiry, the CPS has decided there is insufficient evidence to make an arrest.
Insp Neil Sheratt, Neighbourhood Policing Commander for Cheadle, said: “We owed it to Mr Wolski’s family, the crash survivors and community to …

By Chris Heath: Fans hoping for an early glimpse of Alton Towers’ new multi-million pound ride have been left disappointed after a preview event was cancelled.
Theme park bosses blamed the decision on the new TH13TEEN ride experiencing “some minor technical difficulties”.
As well as cancelling the preview weekend, a competition be the first person to ride Th13teen has also been postponed.
The delay of both these events has sparked rumours that the ride will not be ready for the official opening on March 20.
In a statement released by the park, Alton Towers …

By Alyssa Harrison: Alton Towers was forced to close its doors a day early due to heavy snowfall in Staffordshire.
Guests who visited the theme park on Sunday were unable to enjoy the usual thrill rides because they could not operate with ice on the tracks.
It came only a week after the park opened its new attraction, Sonic Spinball.
The park had opened especially for school half-term. It will open its doors again on March 20 for the new season.
Park officials say all guests who bought tickets for Sunday will be able …

By Carla Regan: Alton Towers is to launch its latest white-knuckle rollercoaster Thirteen on March 20.
Marketed as a terror thrill-ride, Thirteen combines the elements of physical and psychological fear.
It’s so daunting, only visitors aged between 16 and 55 will be allowed on the ride due to concerns about emotional maturity and physical health.
John Wardley, ride consultant, who worked with Alton Towers to create Nemesis, Oblivion and Air, said: “This ground-breaking technology is something never seen before and will open up a whole new concept for theme park rides.
“By combining physical …

By Dean Wilson: Alton Towers has been forced to ban a daredevil squirrel from riding their new rollercoaster.
The dangerous rodent, nicknamed ‘Sonic’, has caused mischief for the operators trying to test the new ‘Sonic Spinball’ ride that opened on Sunday.
Sonic was happy to board alongside visitors, who were invited to enjoy the ride before its official opening on Sunday.
Jon Ellis, 23, who attended the test ride, said: “In fairness the squirrel was here first.
“He probably considers it HIS park that we’re visiting. He was very entertaining.”
But not so entertaining for …

By Leanne Kirtley: Thrillseekers are gearing up for the ride of their lives as Britain’s biggest theme park reveals details of its new £15 million rollercoaster.
The ride called Thirteen, and branded a psychoaster, is scheduled to open at Alton Towers Resort on March 20, 2010.
An Alton Towers spokesperson said: “The ride has been developed with the world’s leading coaster and thrill consultants who have collaborated to combine the ultimate elements of physical and psychological fear – to create what experts are dubbing a psychoaster.”
The theme park has also hinted at …

By Ami Bennett: Tickets go on sale tomorrow for Pink’s first ever stadium tour, including a performance at Staffordshire’s Alton Towers resort.
The tour will visit Bolton, Swansea, Coventry and Glasgow before hitting Alton Towers for an open air performance on Sunday June 27.
She’ll finish off her tour in Ipswich.
Following the success of her record-breaking Funhouse Tour, which has sold two million tickets to date, the Funhouse Summer Carnival tour will arrive in the UK in June 2010.
With special guests to be announced, the current tour is to be transformed …

By Rebecca Clark: Officials at Alton Towers theme park have welcomed plans to reopen a disused railway line.
The track between Stoke-on-Trent and Alton, which has not been used for nearly 18 years, could be in operation by 2011 if the scheme goes ahead.
The plan could cut down the number of vehicles on the roads heading towards the Alton Towers theme park.
It follows an earlier bid to try and get a bypass built through the village after a coach crash left a man dead in 2008.
A spokeswoman for Alton Towers said: …