THE boss of an amusement park has appeared in court over the death of a young woman on a rollercoaster.

Gemma Savage, 20, died when two cars collided on the Treetop Twister ride at Lightwater Valley, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, in June 2001.

Park director Dudley Westegate and maintenance electrician Eric Butters appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court today to answer charges brought by the Health and Safety Executive.

Lightwater Valley Attractions Limited and Mr Butters, of Fairways Avenue, Harrogate, are accused of breaching health and safety laws.

Miss Savage, of Wath-on-Dearne, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was enjoying a day out to celebrate the end of her second year at Durham University when the accident happened.

An inquest heard that Mr Butters was trying to lower cars from the ride, which had been stopped as a safety precaution by the rollercoaster's computer, when the collision took place.

The firm and engineer chose not to enter a plea.

The magistrates opted to send the case to York Crown Court, where the next hearing will take place on December 23.

Bosses from the firm who built the rollercoaster, Societe Reverchon Industries France, were also due in court.

However, the company has gone into liquidation since the accident.

The case against the French firm was adjourned until February 17 for the prosecution to find out if a prosecution can still be brought.