A fairground worker is clinging to life after plunging from a giant rollercoaster.

The man fell from Wall's Magnum Force earlier today at the Flamingo Land zoo and theme park near Pickering, North Yorks.

He was taken by air ambulance from the scene to Middlesbrough's James Cook Hospital.

A North Yorkshire police spokesman said: "He is in a serious condition and is giving cause for concern."

The Health and Safety Executive has launched an investigation into the accident.

Flamingo Land boast that Magnum Force is Europe's only triple looping rollercoaster.

It has a mile of twisting track, reaches 53mph and a G Force of 5 through the corkscrew loops. At one point white knuckle passengers get a spectacular view of the Yorkshire Moors from a height of 100 feet.

The police spokesman said: "We understand the man was an employee of the park.

"H e was stabilised at the scene and airlifted to hospital in Middlesbrough."

A spokeswoman for the HSE said: "Two inspectors have gone to Flamingo Land to begin a preliminary investigation.

"Until that has been carried out we cannot comment on the circumstances of what happened."