THE owners of a North Yorkshire theme park have pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety laws following the death of a 20-year-old student on a rollercoaster.

Durham University student Gemma Savage was seriously injured when two cars collided on the Treetop Twister ride at the Lightwater Valley theme park, near Ripon, on June 20, 2001. She died in hospital a day later.

Three other riders were also injured in the incident.

Lightwater Valley Attractions Ltd and maintenance electrician Eric Butters, of Fairways Avenue, Harrogate, appeared at Leeds Crown Court yesterday, where they admitted breaches of health and safety law.

The French firm which manufactured the ride, Paris-based Societe Reverchon Industries France, is also charged over the incident.

It has since gone into liquidation and no one from the company has appeared at court hearings to enter pleas.

A not guilty plea was entered on the company's behalf and a trial is due to take place on a later date.

Miss Savage, from Wath-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire, was enjoying a day out with friends from Durham University, where she was studying biomedical sciences, when the accident happened. All three parties face charges brought by the Health and Safety Executive under the Health And Safety at Work Act 1974.

Lightwater Valley Attractions Ltd is charged with failing to ensure the health and safety of riders, Butters is charged with failing to ensure safety through his work, and Reverchon is charged with failing to ensure the safety of the construction of the ride.