Nine children and two adults have been hospitalised after Scotland’s only inverted rollercoaster derailed and crashed at the M&D’s theme park in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire.

Five carriages on the Pinfari-manufactured Tsunami rollercoaster came off their tracks, plunging roughly 20ft (6m) to the ground and hitting the top of a child’s car ride, before coming to a rest upside down, leaving riders trapped.

According to reports, three of the children are in a serious condition, while one child has been released from hospital.

The M&D’s park, which is closed until further notice, has said it is co-operating with a joint police and Health and Safety Executive investigation.

Tsunami can reach speeds of up to 38mph (61kmph). The 1,148ft (350m) long and 65ft (20m) high coaster opened in 2004.

This is the second serious rollercoaster accident to happen in the UK in just over a year after the Smiler crashed at Alton Towers, injuring 16 people, two of whom had to undergo leg amputations.

"On arrival it became clear a series of five gondolas connected on a train on the Tsunami ride had detached from the rails, struck the superstructure and then struck the ground,” said police chief inspector David Bruce, area commander for Cumbernauld. “They [the gondolas] fell less than 20 feet. It would appear that they had been coming round a bend and at that point it detached."

"As a family-run business, our thoughts are with those who have been injured and their families. We wish everyone a full recovery,” said an M&D’s statement. “We are co-operating fully with Police Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive on their joint investigation to ascertain the cause of the accident."