Merlin Entertainments has revealed an accident at Alton Towers earlier this year could cost the company as much as £47 million.

Four people were seriously injured during the incident on the ‘Smiler’ rollercoaster in June.

The park was closed temporarily as a result of the accident, with a subsequent knock on affect hitting early summer trading. 

Profits for the theme parks division pf Merlin in 2015 are now expected to be between £40 million and £50 million, compared with £87 million last year.

As well as Alton Towers being closed, Merlin also suspended advertising for its theme parks, and rides at other sites were also closed temporarily.

However, Merlin said that savings and better-than-expected trading across the wider group meant that annual underlying pre-tax profit would be “broadly in line” with the £249 million posted in 2014.