One of the most iconic rides at Lightwater Valley has been closed for good after its owners found they could not bring it up to "acceptable standards".

Brighton Pier Group, which bought the park in 2021, said it had tried to find ways of bringing The Ultimate back into use after it last operated in the 2019 season.

However, the 30-year-old rollercoaster will now be removed from the park, which has shifted its emphasis towards younger children in recent years.

Anne Ackord, chief executive of Brighton Pier Group, said:

The Ultimate was opened in 1991 and at the time was the longest rollercoaster in the world. It has been at Lightwater Valley longer than any other remaining ride.

Along with the rest of the park, based in North Stainley, near Ripon, it was not opened in 2020 because of the covid pandemic, but unlike the other rides it has not been operational since.

When Brighton Pier Group bought the theme park, it indicated its commitment to keeping The Ultimate going. It also said it was aiming to develop and expand the whole park to create "the premier amusement destination across Yorkshire and the surrounding areas".

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