BBC NEWS Sunday, 24 June 2007
Theme park closed after power cut
A power cut which led to the evacuation of a theme park in Surrey has sparked concerns about safety procedures.
Thousands of visitors were at Thorpe Park, in Chertsey, during the incident on Saturday afternoon.
One visitor told the BBC how there had been scenes of extreme overcrowding as staff tried to evacuate the site.
But in a statement, the park said "well rehearsed emergency procedures were instantly put into place, and all rides cleared of guests quickly and safely".
Complimentary tickets
The power failure affected the Staines and Chertsey areas.
Thorpe Park said the decision was taken to evacuate and close the site after it learned that the power would be off for up to three hours.
A spokesman added: "We are very confident that all our Health and Safety procedures were followed... and that everyone was evacuated safely."
All guests were issued with complimentary tickets for a return visit as they left the park, which opened as usual on Sunday.
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