A young girl has been taken to hospital with back injuries after falling from a rope ride at an adventure theme park this afternoon.

The girl, aged about 11, suffered the injuries after a three metre fall from a ride at Hobbledown, Horton Lane, Epsom.

The fall was witnessed by families and children who were enjoying the park at the end of the summer holiday period.

First aiders attended to the girl before she was put in a brace by paramedics as a precaution.

A South East Coast Ambulance spokesperson said: “We were called at 12.50pm to reports a person had suffered a fall from a height. We sent one ambulance and two fast responders. A female patient was taken to St Georges in Tooting. She was believed to have fallen three metres on to grass. She was suffering from back pain but was conscious."

The park's owner, Nick De Candole, said: "It was a failure of the high ropes system. We have closed it off and it won't open until the Health and Safety Executive and the construction company have been down here. Reassuarances will not be enough, we need guarantees it will be safe.

"I want to understand what the problem was. I can't operate a business where this would be a worry. I am stuggling to see why it could have failed."

Were you there? Call the newsdesk on 020 8722 6346 or email newsdesk@epsomguardian.co.uk