A HORROR smash on a rollercoaster which left four teenagers seriously injured has been described as alarming by a Droitwich teen who had ridden it just an hour before.

Two teenage boys and two teenager girls were left with leg injuries while riding The Smiler at Alton Tours after the carriage they were on hit a stationary carriage at just after 2pm.

Four air ambulances were sent to the theme park in Staffordshire and flew the seriously injured teenagers to major trauma centres at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire and Royal Stoke University Hospital once emergency crews had managed to release them.

The families of all four have been informed according to Staffordshire Police.

Ambulance staff built a platform to reach the 16 thrill-seekers who were stuck approximately 25 feet up in the air at an angle of about 45 degrees.

The 12 other rollercoaster riders were expected to be discharged at the scene.

Jordan Kettle, from Droitwich, was visiting the park with his French friend and was returning to the ride when his worried mother called to find out if he was alright.

Speaking from the theme park, the 17-year-old Droitwich High School pupil said: "She had heard about what had happened before I had.

"We were just about to return to the ride when I got her call to find out if we were alright.

"We had ridden it an hour before the accident

"It's quite subdued here now, it's a really strange atmosphere now and we just hope everyone on the ride is okay."

He said the section of the park where The Smiler is based had been closed off to guests but the rest of the park remained open.

"They were telling us it was closed because of technical difficulties and I'm trying to work out what exactly happened.

"It's a week day so the park is pretty quiet anyway but this morning the wait for The Smiler was 80 minutes.

"After the accident though everyone started to leave so it is even quieter which is very strange, there's a very strange atmosphere.

"People are just standing around."

A 999 emergency call from the theme park was received by West Midlands Ambulance Service at 2.09pm reporting that a carriage of The Smiler had collided with a stationary carriage.

Community first responders based at the theme park were first on the scene.

Four Midlands Air Ambulances are at the scene as well as four ambulances, a MERIT trauma doctor and three BASICS doctors, paramedics from the Trusts Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and several senior paramedic managers are currently in attendance.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Of the 16 occupants on board the ride, two teenage boys and two teenage girls, have sustained serious leg injuries.

“A platform has been build up in order for emergency services to reach the occupants on the ride who are approximately 25 feet up in the air at an angle of about 45 degrees.

“Our HART paramedics, doctors, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Alton Towers’ rope rescue staff are working at height to carefully release and treat the four seriously injured teenagers.

"The 12 other occupants on the ride are said to have suffered minor injuries and it’s hoped that they will be discharged from the scene.

“Once released from the ride, all four seriously injured teenagers will be airlifted to major trauma centres at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire and Royal Stoke University Hospital for further emergency treatment.”

Alton Towers has set up a helpline for worried relatives: 0800 230 0770.