Prayers for Selby rail victims

A service is to be held in memory of the victims

A special service of prayer is taking place in memory of the victims of the Selby rail crash.

The service at the Parish Church of St Paul, Hensall, is about one mile from the disaster scene, where at least 10 people are believed to have died last Wednesday.

The accident happened when a Land Rover plunged onto the track causing a freight train and a passenge rtrain to collide.

The Bishops of Doncaster and Selby, the Chairman of the York and Hull District Methodist Church, and the Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds will join local clergy of several Christian churches in the area.

At least 10 people died in the crash

A spokesman said the 45-minute service at 1500GMT would be simple and provide an opportunity for those involved in the immediate locality and aftermath to focus their thoughts and feelings in prayer.

The service will include bible readings and four well-known hymns, and will end with a brief period of silence, the spokesman added.

He said: "All are welcome, whether local residents, those in any way affected by the crash, or those involved in any capacity in the aftermath."

A larger memorial service in the region will follow later.

Poignant messages

Families of the victims have been to the crash site to see where their loved ones died.

Two young sons of the freight train driver were among those who made the poignant journey on Saturday.

Andrew, 12, and James, nine, were accompanied by their mother Mary Dunn.

The children laid flowers near the tangled wreckage, with hand-written notes to their father 39-year-old Stephen Dunn.

All are welcome, whether local residents, those in any way affected by the crash, or those involved in any capacity in the aftermath

Service spokesman

"To Daddy, I know we had our fall outs but we still loved each other. I promise I will do my best to help mum. I will see you later, love Andrew."

The second read: "Roses are red, violets are blue, I really, really love you. See you in heaven, love from James."

Police Superintendent Tony Thompson, of British Transport Police said: "It was very, very difficult for them but they were very brave," he said.

The boys were among five families that made the trip on Saturday.

Forensic tests

Police said they could not rule out finding further bodies until the rest of the wreckage had been taken away.

Mr Thompson said: "There are still two carriages to be removed and a wheel set has also been pushed into the embankment. Until all this is cleared we cannot say for sure that we have a final death toll."

Moving tributes were laid by families of the victims

The Land Rover, trailer and the vehicle it was pulling were also removed from the site yesterday for forensic examination.

Police stressed that the Land Rover driver, Gary Hart, 36, of Strubby, Lincolnshire, had not been arrested or charged with any criminal offence.

On Sunday, the recovery teams aim to complete the removal of the GNER train from the rail side and start the removal of the freight train locomotive.

The police plan to hand over the site to Railtrack by Monday.

The names of six victims have been officially released.

They are: Church warden Christopher Terry, 30 of York; IT manager Robert Shakespeare from Beverley, East Yorkshire; GNER train driver John Weddle, from Throckley, near Newcastle; buffet car chef Paul Taylor, from the Newcastle area; GNER customer operations leader Raymond Robson, 43, from Whitley Bay; and goods train driver Stephen Dunn, 39, from Brayton, Selby.