THE truck ride that crashed and overturned into a river at the popular Diggerland theme park at Langley Park, near Durham, has been shut down while safety inspections take place.

Twelve people, including six children, were hurt when the all-terrain Super Track truck failed to stop at the bottom of a steep hill, despite having tough tank-type tyre treads.

Diggerland company managers have also withdrawn the ride from their other two parks in Devon and Kent. The area where the accident happened is cordoned off but the rest of the theme park is open for business.

The truck, being used to give visitors a tour of the park, toppled over as the driver tried to negotiate a right-angle bend. It fell 8ft and rolled on to its side before coming to rest in the shallow water of the River Browney.

The driver escaped unhurt and the passengers' seatbelts saved them from life-threatening injuries.

Sandy Digby, the company's public relations and marketing manager, said: "We are obviously devastated that this accident happened. We are fully co-operating with the Health and Safety Executive, which is carrying out an investigation on site.

"This has affected us all. We are in the business of helping people to enjoy themselves and are very upset by this.

"All of our rides are subject to rigorous health and safety procedures." Ms Digby praised the efforts of visitors who rushed to the scene of the accident, on Tuesday lunchtime, to help the injured.

"We would like to thank the members of the public who gallantly came forward and helped the injured," she said. "They were amazing."

The injured were taken to the University Hospital of North Durham in Durham City.

Two people were stretchered out of the trailer while the others crossed the river unaided to get to dry land.

A six-year-old boy from Northumberland, needed an emergency operation for a severe fracture to his foot. He was kept in overnight and his condition was described as stable.

A 35-year-old woman was also kept in for one night with suspected broken ribs.

One man discharged himself from hospital before being seen by doctors and the remaining visitors were

released after treatment for cuts and bruises.

Acting Insp Eddie Bell, of Consett Police, said the trailer came to rest on the weir with the tractor part facing downstream.

"It would have been very scary for the passengers. Some of them would have landed in the water, so you can imagine it was quite an ordeal.

"One suggestion is that the engine cut out, reducing its braking capability because the servos wouldn't work.

"Other suggestions include driver error or some other mechanical failure but we have to keep an open mind."

Company operations director Mick Coleman travelled from Kent to help health and safety officers with their investigation.

A spokesman for the HSE said on Wednesday: "The vehicle has been pulled out of the water and is in quarantine waiting for a mechanical engineering specialist.

"We have issued a prohibition notice on this machine and another which is used at Diggerland.

"We will also be looking at the degree of the slope they came down to find out if that had anything to do with it or whether it was some thing else."

It is thought to be the first accident of its kind at the theme park, which gives young people the chance to get behind the wheel of a variety of mechanical diggers.

The £2m adventure park opened more than three years ago.

A disclaimer at the attraction reads: "No liability can be accepted for any loss or damage to vehicles, property or personnel, howsoever caused."