Thrill seekers on a 72ft-high rollercoaster obtained greater than they bargained for after they have been left hanging vertically when the experience broke down.

Social media footage confirmed riders of the Rage attraction on the Adventure Island theme park in Southend in Essex caught at a 90-degree angle going through skywards on Friday afternoon.

A rescue operation was launched and people aboard have been evacuated and returned to the bottom inside 40 minutes, in line with the park.

Rage is marketed as Adventure Island's "biggest and best" rollercoaster - with "loops, twists, and flat-out speeds".

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Marc Miller, managing director of the Stockvale Group - which runs Adventure Island, stated: "Just after 2pm today, a carriage on Rage stopped on the lift.

"Our extremely skilled group instantly initiated our experience evacuation plan, which has been licensed by the Health and Safety Executives and Essex Fire and Rescue.

"All passengers were returned to the ground, safe and sound and reunited with their families within 40 minutes."