Alton Towers: Shrewsbury woman banned from Smiler rollercoaster because she only has one hand

Sarah Pond, 33, from Shrewsbury, was on a trip to the theme park when she was told she could not go on the ride, despite another person with a broken arm in a cast being allowed on.

She was one of a group of six people to visit the attraction in Staffordshire on Friday. She said that until the time she tried to take her seat on the Smiler she'd had a great day. The ride was involved in the accident last year that led to several people suffering serious injuries and the theme park closing for several days.

In a post on her Facebook page Mrs Pond, who works for Amberleigh Care in Welshpool, said: "We come several times a year and have done for over 20 years.

"However I'm not happy with how I was treated on Smiler.

"We queued and were about to sit on the ride when I was told 'you need to get off, you have one hand'.

"Never in my life have I been spoken to like this. I was not offered a reason why when I explained I have been on this ride about 10 times on other days. I was still not given a reason. I did leave the ride but waited for the children I was with."

She added: "When I asked the staff member about this and why was I removed all he could say was 'I don't know'. So he was a great help. Then to my astonishment he let a girl on with a broken arm in a cast.

"Once she had gone, I questioned why she was allowed on but not me. He once again said 'I don't know'. I said 'well, you let her on'. He again said for a third time 'I don't know'.

"This made me so angry and upset but rather than spoil everyone else's time with an argument we left the park. Never in my 33 years of life have I been treated with such discrimination over being born without my hand. This has put me off ever returning to Alton Towers again."

A spokesman for Alton Towers said that Mrs Pond couldn't ride the Smiler because it wouldn't be safe. It apologised that she did not get the experience Alton Towers would like its guests to have.

But the spokesman said restrictions are set by ride manufacturers and they are in place because rider safety is its priority.