The owners of the Alton Towers theme park have pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety rules after a rollercoaster crash.

Two people had their legs amputated after the collision on the Smiler ride in June last year, while three others suffered significant injuries.

Theme park operator Merlin indicated a guilty plea to a charge of breaching the UK's Health and Safety at Work Act.

Merlin faces a hefty fine following a brief hearing at North Staffordshire justice centre. 

Alton Towers reopened the Smiler ride last month - nine months after the accident.

The theme park said in a statement it had "sought to learn every possible lesson to help ensure there is no repeat of what happened".

Two teenage passengers - Vicky Balch and Leah Washington - each lost a leg in the aftermath of the accident.

Their carriage collided with a stationary car on the ride.

Miss Washington's boyfriend, Joe Pugh, broke both knees and endured extensive hand injuries.

Another passenger suffered a fractured leg and a punctured lung, while the fifth injured visitor suffered internal bleeding.