Rollercoasters: Top 10 facts about the world's favourite amusement ride

1. This is the anniversary of the day in 1898 when a patent was granted to Edwin Prescott for the first rollercoaster with a vertical loop.

2. Actually a French invention called a “Centrifugal Railway” with a vertical loop had been installed in Paris 50 years earlier in 1848. 

3. Prescott’s “Loop the Loop” rollercoaster was installed at Coney Island Amusement Park in 1901.

4. It had been preceded by a “Flip-Flap Railway” which produced such strong G-forces that many passengers passed out.

5. Prescott, from Massachusetts, patented a number of other inventions including a wagon-jack and a mop-wringer.

6. The Formula Rossa rollercoaster in Abu Dhabi reaches a record speed of 149mph.

 7. The Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers boasts a record number of 14 inversions.

8. There are more roller coasters in China than any other country: 824 at the last count. USA comes second on 659. 

9. In 2010 in Southend, 102 people set a record for most people riding a rollercoaster in the nude.

10. The world record for most hair rollers put on in one minute while riding a rollercoaster is 17.