Merlin Entertainments has reported a 1.3 per cent increase in like-for-like revenues for the first nine months of 2016, as stronger trading in the group’s theme park division helped offset declines elsewhere.

Revenue in Merlin’s six Legoland-branded theme parks rose 2.2 per cent, while its resort theme parks grew by thee per cent, offsetting a 0.4 per cent decline in the company’s Midway segment, which includes the Madame Tussauds, London Eye and SeaLife brands.

Merlin’s trading update came as the group was handed a record £5m fine over a crash on one of its roller coasters last year that left five people with serious injuries.

Two female passengers on The Smiler ride at Alton Towers were forced to undergo leg amputations and three others were also seriously injured when their carriage collided with a stationary carriage on the same track in June 2015.

Speaking at Stafford Crown Court on September 27, Nick Varney, chief executive officer of Merlin, said: “From the beginning the company has accepted full responsibility for the terrible accident at Alton Towers and has made sincere and heartfelt apologies to those who were injured. I repeat those sentiments here today as we did in court yesterday.

“In accepting responsibility and liability very early on we have tried to make the healing and compensation process as trouble free as possible for all of those involved. We have strived to fulfil our promise to support them in every way and I promise that this support will continue as long as they need it.”