Rail horror dominates papers

A "billion-to-one horror" is how The Express describes the Selby rail crash - a story that dominates the papers.

The Express says it is already clear that an unbelievably freakish chain of events caused the disaster, in which 13 people died.

The Sun describes how only seconds elapsed between the driver of a car and trailer crashing down an embankment onto the line and the arrival of the inter city train.

The motorist's mother, Margaret Hart, tells the paper that people should not blame her son because it could have happened to anyone.

Time for grief

The Mirror calculates that it would cost just £5m to extend barriers on bridges above railway lines to prevent cars from careering down embankments.

The paper says a survivor of the Ladbroke Grove crash, Tony Knox, wrote to Railtrack in December to voice his concerns about safety around poorly maintained bridges and tunnels.

But the Daily Mail reminds readers that no method of transport is risk-free, and says there should be no rush to judgement.

The Express agrees, saying this is a time for grief, but not hysteria.

Rising meat prices

According to The Times, a month-long ban on all animal movements in Britain has come a step closer, after Wednesday's new cases of foot-and-mouth disease.

The Guardian reports that the population census - due to take place on 29 April - may have to be postponed.

The Daily Telegraph reports that meat prices are rising by 20% a day, because of the outbreak.

The paper says that British supplies of pork, lamb and mutton are running out, with more expensive imports being brought in to meet demand.

The Independent says people travelling to the continent or the Republic of Ireland are being asked not to bring food with them, especially items like yoghurts and sausage rolls.

Woodhead on the attack

The Daily Telegraph's latest columnist, the former Chief Inspector of Schools, Chris Woodhead, is given front page coverage in the paper.

His article attacking government education policy is described by the paper as a "stinging attack".

The Daily Telegraph's leader column urges readers to heed Mr Woodhead's message.

It says Tony Blair has only pretended to listen to his concerns that a generation of children are being betrayed by current education policies.

Clinton's 'work of fiction'

According to the Guardian, there are growing rumours that Bill Clinton will sign a two-book deal covering his White House memoirs and a novel.

Thoughts of a work of fiction are said to have provoked excited gossip, with one critic quick to suggest that Mr Clinton has never found much difficulty in making up a story.

An Odd Couple

Finally, the Daily Telegraph reports that Jack Nicholson and Marlon Brando are living together in Beverly Hills, prompting comparisons with the 1960s comedy, The Odd Couple.

The two Hollywood stars have been neighbours for years, but Nicholson is said to have sought a haven with Brando, leaving his wife and two children next door.