Crowds return to scorched theme park

Investigations continue into the cause of the blaze

Customers have returned in their droves to Thorpe Park one day after fire destroyed two rides at the Surrey attraction.

Firefighters are still investigating the cause of the blaze, which gutted a wooden boat ride and spread to another ride, shops, an amusement arcade and a restaurant on Friday.

Managers have reduced ticket prices by £2 to encourage visitors, and they say the public have been undeterred by the fire.

The attraction's divisional director, Glenn Earlam, said he expected numbers through the gates to reach about 7,000, the usual figure for a summer Saturday.

"I've been walking around this morning and it's pretty busy," he said.

"The affected area is all cordoned off and there are no safety problems. There are still plenty of rides to go on."

Investigation

More than 100 fire-fighters were called to attraction and staff evacuated 7,000 day-trippers after the blaze started on the Mr Rabbit's Tropical Travels boat ride.

The Wicked Witches Haunt also partially collapsed as a result of the blaze.

The park's owners say the evacuation went according to plan and there were no reported injuries.