£800,000 towards police rail crash funding

But the figure is still more than £100,000 short of the amount spent on policing the disaster.

The funding will be provided under the Bellwin Scheme - set up to give financial help to local and police authorities in the case of expense incurred because of unforeseen disaster.

Peter Walker, the county's deputy chief constable, had revealed how the £900,000 cost of policing the accident had eaten into reserves normally set aside for another major incident or a lengthy murder inquiry.

He warned that any further major incident could force the police to cut essential services.

In response to a Parliamentary question tabled by Selby MP John Grogan, Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford said: "I am satisfied that financial assistance under the Bellwin Scheme is justified in the case of North Yorkshire Police Authority, given the exceptional nature of the costs incurred by the authority following the rail crash.

"Grant will be paid to cover 85 per cent of the eligible costs above a threshold, which the authority incurred in dealing with the rail crash."

Bernard Flynn, North Yorkshire Police director of finance, said: "We're delighted that the Local Government Minister has approved our application for financial support. At this time we estimate that we should receive £800,000 and this will be extremely useful given the current financial position of the force."

Graeme Robertson, vice-chairman of the North Yorkshire Police Authority, said the pay-out was the result of six months of "pressing" the Government.

He said: "I would like to thank all the MPs who worked on our behalf, particularly John Grogan."

Mr Grogan said: "I'm very pleased that the Government has paid up the extra policing costs associated with the Selby train crash. This will mean that North Yorkshire Police Authority should have ample resources to continue to improve police cover in the county in the next year."

Updated: 11:42 Wednesday, February 06, 2002