PLANS to use the West Somerset Railway to stage a mock train disaster today (Friday) have been shelved in the wake of Tuesday's fatal rail crash at Hatfield, in Hertfordshire.

Train operator First Great Western had planned to use four carriages involved in last year's Paddington rail crash in the exercise, which was to have simulated a fire onboard one of the company's trains.

Now bosses have decided to postpone the mock-up after four people were killed and scores injured when part of a London to Leeds express train derailed this week.

First Great Western's managing director, Mike Carroll, said: "Given the nature of the accident, it would be inappropriate for us to go ahead with this exercise so soon after such a tragic event."

The train operator had planned to use four of carriages involved in the Paddington accident - which have been stored at Minehead Station since the summer - to test the effectiveness of information notices, safety lighting and other emergency procedures in the event of a fire.

The exercise, using volunteers from outside the industry, would have tested both existing measures as well as those being considered for the future, with the findings being used to identify the most appropriate safety measures.

Survivors of the Paddington crash, which claimed 31 lives, had given their support to the company's plans, but said they remained concerned that the carriages could eventually be put back into general use as there was currently a shortage of high-speed rolling stock.

Three carriages involved in the Paddington crash were being re-used after they were involved in the fatal train accident at Southall in 1997 which killed seven people.

The four Paddington crash carriages stationed in Minehead all suffered minor damage in last year's accident and have since been repaired.

Mr Carroll said the emergency exercise would have helped to address some of the safety recommendations made in the wake of the Paddington crash.

He said it would now be held at a later date and would ultimately help the company discover how people react in an emergency and how they rated First Great Western's evacuation procedures.

"We will also be asking them to test the effectiveness of existing and proposed emergency information signs and an additional form of safety lighting which we are considering introducing on our trains," he added.