The new owners of Oakwood Theme Park say they fully accept the findings of last Thursday's court case and the conclusion of the investigation by the Health and Safety Executive, following the death of a teenage girl who fell off the park's Hydro ride back in 2004.

Sixteen-year-old Hayley Williams, a Sunday school teacher from Pontypool, Torfaen, plunged 100 feet to her death on April 15, 2004.

An inquest into Hayley's death in May 2005, saw Pembrokeshire Coroner Michael Howells return a narrative verdict, stating that Hayley 'was ejected from the Hydro ride because she was not properly restrained and died as a result of the injuries she sustained'.

At a sentencing hearing at Swansea Crown Court last week, the theme park at Canaston Bridge, near Narberth, was fined £250,000, after admitting breaching the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act.

At a hearing back in July, Oakwood Leisure Ltd admitted a single charge of failing to ensure persons not in its employment were not exposed to risks to their health and safety.

Since acquiring the Pembrokeshire attraction at the start of 2008, new owners Aspro have co-operated fully with the Health and Safety Executive and the courts to resolve the case.

Following last week's court sentence, a spokesperson for the Spanish-owned leisure operator said health and safety issues were their number one priority.

"The safety and wellbeing of our visitors is of paramount importance and, since acquiring the park earlier this year, we have continued to review all procedures throughout the business," said the spokesperson.

"Oakwood Theme Park is one of the country's leading visitor attractions, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

"Our aim is to make it into a 'must-visit' attraction where people can enjoy thrilling and exciting world class rides in a safe and secure environment."

Hydro re-opened to the public in 2005. Following recommendations from the HSE, over-the-shoulder restraints were fitted and a remote CCTV system implemented to monitor the ride.

The ride cannot be dispatched if any of the restraints are not in the locked position.

"We would, once again, wish to take this opportunity to extend our very deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to the Williams family," they added.