Alton Towers has confirmed plans to build a new ride to replace Corkscrew. Codename Secret Weapon Six is due to open in 2010.

The ride is another world first and is expected to bring in an additional 100,000 visitors to the park when it opens.

Built in Ug Land on the site of Alton Towers' oldest ride, it will have a track height of 20m and will run through a woodland section known as Abbey Wood. Secret Weapon Six is also rumoured to take passengers in reverse for a short section.

Mark Kerrigan, head of development at the park and chairman of Destination Staffordshire said in an interview with The Sentinel: "The Corkscrew was the most iconic ride of its generation and this will be as good if not better."

It comes as little surprise to hear that almost 100 letters of objection were lodged against the park's plans. Last year Alton Towers was taken to court by a disgruntled family who felt that the attraction was "a nuisance". Stephen and Suzanne Roper claimed that Alton Towers breached a noise abatement order set in October 2005. The case was later dropped.

Kerrigan went on to say: "We are fundamentally aware of the limits on noise and height and we have worked very hard to ensure that it will not cause any environmental harm."

As a result, the new ride will actually be 1.7m lower than Corkscrew.

With all the hype currently surrounding SAW - The Ride at Thorpe Park, the focus now turns to Alton Towers in anticipation of what could be the next best ride in the country.