Train belts father petitions PM

Emily Webster was killed when the train hit a car on the tracks

A Devon father who lost his daughter in the Berkshire rail crash is taking his campaign for seatbelts on trains to Downing Street.

Emily Webster, 14, a pupil at The Maynard School, Exeter, was among seven people who died in last month's crash.

Her father, Peter, believes his daughter would be alive if high-speed trains were fitted with seatbelts.

He and a number of Emily's friends will be handing in a petition signed by 4,000 people to 10 Downing Street.

The group includes 15-year-old Christine Panton, who was travelling with Emily and her father, and survived the crash.

"The level of support I have had on the issue is tremendous, even in the train organisations in some respects," said Mr Webster, of Doccombe, near Moretonhampstead.

He felt his campaign had made "a lot of progress in a small number of weeks", with the issue being the subject of debates and motions in the Commons.

"Three people died in our carriage - they would have been alive if they had been wearing seatbelts," he said.

"I do not think the politicians are aware of the issues, research and evidence out there," he said.