MOST people like to relax on holiday, to leave their concerns at home and enjoy a stress-free break in peaceful surroundings.
But the 200 Americans who recently arrived in North Yorkshire had a very different holiday in mind. They wanted to frighten themselves silly.
They arrived at Lightwater Valley theme park, near Ripon, and enjoyed, or endured, rides on the longest rollercoaster in Europe, the Ultimate, as well as the underground Sewer Rat.
The visitors were members of the American Coasters Enthusiasts, or Ace, who are on a European tour of 60 rides at 17 amusement parks in six countries
Tour director Tim Baldwin said: "Never in the history of Ace has there been an event on such a huge scale. It is not just an event or a tour, it is an odyssey.
"We're delighted to be able to say we've now been on the longest rollercoaster in Europe."
Ace is a worldwide organisation of amusement park and rollercoaster enthusiasts. Based in the United States, it has 7,000 members around the globe.
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