Victims of the North Yorkshire rail disaster are being offered compensation by the Land Rover driver's insurance company.

Fortis Insurance, which insured the Land Rover which left the M62, leading to the death of ten GNER passengers in February, has written to all the passengers on the train offering them a chance to make claims, but has fallen short of admitting liability.

The news emerged as the BBC came under renewed pressure to cancel an episode of Casualty which mimics the horrific train crash.

Selby MP John Grogan has called for it to be shelved and has branded it "insensitive".

A letter sent to victims of the crash by Fortis Insurance expresses sympathy to crash victims.

"I wanted to write you to express my own shock at the accident and my sympathy for the very difficult period you must now be going through," reads the letter, from chief executive Peter Robinson.

"Fortis is concerned to ensure that claims by the passengers on the train are not held up while the necessary investigations and legal assessment of the position takes place."

A spokeswoman said Fortis will pay out compensation in the first instance, then will either stand the cost if found liable, or be reimbursed by any other party found to be at fault. Meanwhile nine victims of the crash are seeking compensation through a local solicitors firm, specialising in railway accident claims.

Pattinson & Brewer solicitors, in Bridge Street, York, will be making claims on behalf of two grieving families and seven survivors.

"At this stage no party has admitted liability," said Kevin Hughes, from the firm.

"It could be a long drawn-out process for the more seriously injured, but we will be hoping to secure an early settlement for those suffering from lesser injuries."

He added that the company were not acting as "ambulance-chasers" but were simply aiding those caught up in the terrible tragedy.

A spokesman for Fortis said: "As the lead insurer we will be responsible for paying out compensation. We wanted to be proactive following this terrible tragedy and have written to those involved offering them the chance to make a claim."

One survivor, who asked not to be named, said he was not surprised at receiving the letter and will be seeking compensation in due course. He also expressed his anger over the Casualty episode.

And Selby MP John Grogan, who is chairman of the all-party parliamentary BBC group in the House of Commons, said today he was concerned the scenes in the BBC show could cause further distress to the injured and families of victims of the real-life tragedy.

He said: "These judgement calls are always very difficult for TV companies but I think in this case, it is too close to the bone.

"It could cause offence to the people who are still traumatised by the memories of the accident."

A BBC spokeswoman said "great sensitivity" was always taken to avoid parallels between plot lines and real-life events.

Updated: 11:43 Friday, April 20, 2001