THE parents of train driver Stephen Dunn have welcomed the guilty verdict against the motorist who caused his death.

Retired Leslie Dunn, 70, and his wife, Patricia, 63, of Pitman Avenue, Trowbridge, have been struggling to rebuild their lives since the February 28 Selby rail disaster.

The couple were unable to accompany their son's widow, Mary, to Leeds Crown Court to hear Gary Hart, 37, found guilty of 10 counts of causing death by dangerous driving last week.

Mrs Dunn said: "This last week has stirred it all up again but the verdict is what we and our daughter-in-law wanted. She is relieved it is all over and we are all just trying to move forward as best we can."

The court heard that Hart's Land Rover ended up on the railway line when he fell asleep at the wheel after staying up all night, causing the GNER Newcastle-to-London train to derail.

Mr Dunn, who would have celebrated his 40th birthday on Friday, was driving the 1,000-tonne Freightliner train that was then hit by the GNER train.

His mother said: "We did have a little sympathy with Hart at first but not after hearing the details. He was on the phone for five hours and he said he didn't need any sleep that's just irresponsible. He hasn't shown any remorse for what he has done."

Stephen Dunn grew up in Trowbridge, going to Newtown Primary School and then to Clarendon.

He always wanted to be a train driver and his first job on leaving school was at Westbury station.

He moved to the Yorkshire village of Brayton, near Selby, with his wife and their two sons, Andrew, 13, and James, 11, just three years before the accident.

His father said: "There were 10 men that died but look at the families involved the number of people must run into the hundreds.

"It is very hard for my grandsons but they are coping very well considering what has happened."

The couple are not sure if they will see their daughter-in-law and grandsons over Christmas but will be spending time with their two daughters and their families.

Mrs Dunn said: "Christmas isn't easy you go shopping and see things he would have liked, things that remind you of him it is hard, but we have to go on."

It is the second time the family has been hit by tragedy. Ten years ago their younger son, James, died suddenly at the age of 25.