ALL-CLEAR FOR TOP GEAR RAIL CRASH

The Cumbria rail crash will not prevent BBC executives from giving the go-ahead on a train crash sequence in tonight's episode of Top Gear.

It was confirmed this afternoon that the BBC would permit the feature to be aired with an announcement before the programme noting that the railway safety item would be broadcast.

The sequence shows a train travelling at 70mph crashing into a car and was arranged in conjunction with Network Rail to highlight the importance of motorists paying attention to safety on level crossings.

"I'm not sure it's a good idea," the vice-chairperson of the Safe Trains Action Group (Stag), Carol Bell, commented.

"I do understand the programme itself has been through something like this with Richard Hammond," she said, referring to last summer's much-publicised accident when the Top Gear presenter nearly lost his life while driving a drag-car.

"But there's a poor woman who's lost her life, and her family is still injured," Ms Bell continued.

"This could have been delayed, particularly as there are still people seriously ill. If it was me personally, I don't think I would want to see it."

An elderly woman was killed in the Cumbria train crash on Friday evening which has dominated headlines this weekend. One man remains critically ill while ten others are also in hospital following the derailment on the west coast mainline.