A fruit farm in Hertfordshire has found itself at the centre of an online debate after defending a homemade Titanic-themed ride against claims that it disrespects the victims of the 1912 maritime disaster.

Let me walk you through what is happening at Graveley Fruit Farm near Hitchin, where an attraction built from farmyard parts has sparked strong reactions and conflicting complaints.

The ride operates by lifting a replica ship at one end, which then slides customers downwards in a motion resembling the sinking of the ocean liner.

To put the sensitivity into context, more than 1,500 people drowned when the original Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic during its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in 1912. The historical ship's construction cost £1.5m, which is roughly £170m in today's money.

By contrast, the farm's replica was built last year using repurposed agricultural materials, including strawberry polytunnel hoops and an old tipper lorry trailer.

Online critics have labelled the ride "disrespectful", but farm owner Will Campbell-Gray has defended the installation, highlighting what he views as its educational value in encouraging children to learn about the history of the ship.

Mr Campbell-Gray noted that the ride has proved particularly popular with certain visitors. He said: "We've had autistic children who are obsessed with Titanic... they love coming here and going on it because they know all the facts and all the figures."

The farm's owners estimate that about 500 people use the ride every day, but keeping it open has not been straightforward, particularly when it comes to what the attraction should be called.

Following online complaints last year, the farm initially had new signs made to rename the attraction The Big Tipper. However, Mr Campbell-Gray said this move caused a "far greater" backlash than the original name.

He revealed that his wife, who runs the farm's social media accounts, was targeted directly over the name change. He said: "My wife, who does the social media, got threats... death threats saying that we should change it back."

Faced with that response, the owners decided to reverse the decision and restore the Titanic name. As Mr Campbell-Gray explained: "So we actually thought long and hard and thought, actually, we're not making fun of the dead or anything."

It is not yet known whether the farm plans any further adjustments to the ride or its signage in the future. I'll be following this one — check back for updates.