Four roller coasters at three theme parks in the UK have been shut after the crash on The Smiler at Alton Towers in which 16 people were injured, four seriously.

The Smiler, which crashed, and SAW - The Ride, another multi-car roller coaster manufactured by Gerstlauer which is at Thorpe Park, have both been shut "for the foreseeable future" according to Merlin Entertainments.

Two other multi-car roller coasters, Dragon's Fury and Rattlesnake at Chessington World of Adventures, have also been closed until new safety protocols have been applied.

Growth in visitor numbers at some of the UK's biggest theme parks during 2014 revealed in figures from TEA/AECOM.

The annual TEA/AECOM Theme Index and Museum Index, the definitive annual attendance study for the themed entertainment and museum industries, has been published.

Theme park numbers for calendar year 2014 show that the industry has continued its post-recession attendance growth at a healthy rate of 4% for the top parks globally. Europe has rebounded with 3% volume growth, the U.S. has remained steady at a little over 2%, and Asia, still the leader but not by as much, increased by about 5%.

Four people have been seriously injured after two trains on The Smiler roller coaster at Alton Towers collided on Tuesday 2nd June.

The theme park has been closed for five days from Wednesday 3rd June until Sunday 7th June.

No Time For Nuts, a brand new film for Ice Age The 4D Experience at Alton Towers, launches on 24th May 2015.

Ice Age The 4D Experience originally opened at Alton Towers in 2002 and has been showing a film based on the third movie in the blockbuster series, but for 2015 has been updated with this Academy Award nominated short film.

LEGO Friends fans are in for a treat at LEGOLAND Windsor this May half term as a totally new area brings to life the vibrancy and fun of Heartlake City with exciting new attractions, an action packed live show and new equestrian themed Disk'O ride, Mia’s Riding Adventure. 

The all-new Heartlake City themed area opens on 23 May when guests can step into the colourful world of the LEGO Friends. The unmistakeable exterior of the Heartlake Shopping Mall gives a stunning harbour-side backdrop for the exciting new live show Friends to the Rescue! featuring Mia, Andrea, Stephanie, Emma and Olivia. Fans can join the girls on an action packed adventure full of surprises and sing and dance along to their favourite LEGO Friends songs.

Then guests can head over to the Heartlake City Express for a gentle train journey through the LEGO countryside, before taking a more energetic equestrian turn on Disk'O ride Mia’s Riding Adventure. This horseback adventure spins riders through the air, travelling backwards and forwards on a circular spinning ‘race track’. Plus at Olivia’s House little LEGO builders can help build a home for one of Olivia’s pets and Emma’s Ice Cream Parlour will be dishing up some delicious desserts. 

Heartlake City is also a perfect place to stop for lunch, with Heartlake Pizza & Pasta and the Heartlake Park Cafe too.

Further plans for the London Paramount Entertainment Resort have been released, including many artists impressions of the potential lands in the theme park that would include a wide variety of rides, attractions, shows, shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.

The £2bn development scheme for the 872-acre Swanscombe Peninsula site, known as the London Paramount Entertainment Resort, would include not only a theme park but several hotels and Europe's largest indoor waterpark. It is intended to open in 2020 and expected to attract on average 40,000 visitors per day.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach is reaching for the skies with a new ride for 2015, Red Arrows Skyforce is the first Gerstlauer 'Sky Fly' attraction in the UK and launches on May 25th but test flights are now available.

The 42-acre amusement park has joined forces with the world famous Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, to launch the thrill ride. Blackpool Pleasure Beach is the world’s first tourist attraction to have a ride based on the Red Arrows.

The possibility of a wooden roller coaster at Alton Towers is one step closer as the popular theme park reveals plans for a new ride in Forbidden Valley.

In a document submitted to the local planning authority various details are given, including that the proposed ride would be of timber truss construction set within a wooden backdrop and foreground.

Previous plans for a wooden roller coaster at the park have included a cross-valley ride between Dark Forest and Forbidden Valley.

Britain’s most iconic theme park has opened the doors of its new Enchanted Village. The new accommodation is themed around a quirky village hideaway and located in woodland next to the Alton Towers Hotel. The Enchanted Village offers a distinctive short break for guests to stay in woodland lodges and luxury treehouses.

Set in amongst the woodland, the luxury treehouses sleep groups of 8 and all have four separate bedrooms with their own plasma TV. Each treehouse has its own unique style, with luxury furnishings, self-catering facilities and a relaxing lounge area with 50” plasma TV and games console. The outdoor decking area, with private hot tub offers a great place to unwind, with beautiful views over the enchanting woodland. 

New for 2015 at Thorpe Park, Island Beats brings the best in UK music together with world-class rides. The Vamps, Ella Eyre, Rizzle Kicks, Professor Green and Conor Maynard will headline the music event from Monday 6 July - Sunday 30 August.

Thorpe Park in partnership with Universal Music Global and Showcase Live present Island Beats over 8 weeks.