The widow of a Sussex man killed in the Hatfield rail crash has filed a £1.62 million writ against Railtrack.

Lesley Arthur is one of four women whose husbands died in the crash suing Railtrack (now Network Rail) for more than £5 million in damages.

Pilot Steve Arthur, 46, of Brighton Road, Pease Pottage, near Crawley, was killed when the GNER London-Leeds express came off the track in October 2001.

Four died and 104 were injured in the crash, which led to a major upgrading of rail lines across Britain.

Mrs Arthur, 35, and their children, Holly, nine, and Nicholas, six, have had some financial help but received no compensation.

Mr Arthur ran the Atlantic Gulf Aviation company.