A TRAIN driver who was left in agony after slipping on a pile of discarded rubbish has been awarded a £6,000 compensation pay-out.

Northern Rail paid the hefty sum to train driver Peter Kelly after he was left out of work for 11 weeks when he stepped on to slippery food wrappers left at the entrance off the train, causing him to fall backwards on to the platform.

Mr Kelly suffered torn ligaments at the bottom of his back.

The 49-year-old, of Selby, secured the damages with the support of his trade union Aslef and personal injury specialist Thompsons.

On the day of the accident, in September 2006, Mr Kelly was working on the Leeds-to-Ilkley route. As he got on the train in order to drive back to Leeds, he stepped on to rubbish that had been thrown on to the train, but not cleaned up.

Mr Kelly said: "Somebody had discarded some orange peel and a greasy sandwich bag by the door. As I stepped on the train to drive back to Leeds I stood on the rubbish and slipped backwards and landed heavily on my back.

"The pain in my back was really bad but I didn't go to hospital straight away as I hoped it would settle. We were due to go on a family holiday to America a week later and I hoped the pain would subside, but it didn't and my holiday was ruined.

"When we returned, I went straight to Selby War Memorial Hospital where they treated me."

Mr Kelly spent weeks on crutches and had to take 11 weeks off work. He said, even now, 17 months later, he had take painkillers and could only walk short distances.

Mr Kelly, who has since returned to work, said his compensation was settled in a "private settlement".

Aslef spokeswoman Nicky Whitehead said: "For a train driver and other staff, the train is their workplace and Northern Rail knows only too well that they are obliged to clean the train adequately in order to provide a safe working environment. If they had done so, our member Mr Kelly would have avoided injury."

Representing Mr Kelly, Keely Goldup, of Thompsons Solicitors in Leeds, said: "There are clear workplace regulations in place which spell out the steps that should be taken by employers. In this instance, Northern Rail flouted its obligations and is now paying the price."

Carolyn Watson, press officer for Northern Rail, said: "We have a comprehensive cleaning programme for our trains and stations, and we work with all our employees to prevent accidents."