GRIEVING widow Christine Tindall has spoken of her family's devastation over the loss of a husband and father killed in the Tebay rail crash.

Gary Tindall, 46, was one of the four men who died when a runaway wagon crashed into a team working on the tracks just south of Tebay.

Mr Tindall lived with his wife and son, Darren, in a cottage overlooking the railway lines where generations of Tindall men have worked over the last 100 years.

"Gary was a loving family man," said Mrs Tindall and even though he worked long hours on the railway he would obligingly help out with the housework after poor health led to her reduced mobility.

Tebay born and bred, Mr Tindall was a popular figure at the village's Sports and Social Club where he was captain of the darts team and organised social activities such as trips to the races. He was also a keen footballer and had played for Lunesdale United in the past.

The Tebay-based team have called off tomorrow's Westmorland League match with Coniston as a mark of respect to Mr Tindall.

He took up his job on the railway in 1984 after spells working at Goodacre Carpets and K-Shoes in Kendal.

Mrs Tindall did not wish to comment on the circumstances of the accident in which her husband lost his life.

Also among the dead was Chris Waters, 54, from Morecambe, who died on the 23rd anniversary of his engagement to wife Christine.

Mrs Waters said that her husband was safety conscious and did complain about new hard hats being intrusive.

"He had worked over 20 years on the railway and they never had to wear a hard hat they had ear muffs before."

Her son Alan said: "He didn't like the new hats because they were ill-fitting, made him sweat and slipped off but he never complained about the safety issue.

"We are not looking to blame anyone," he stressed.

He also went on to describe his father as very funny' and an avid supporter of England and Arsenal.

Mrs Waters added: "You can't bring him back and accidents do happen."

Responding to calls for a public inquiry she said: "A public inquiry is perhaps the best way so that outsiders can look at what happened.

"It has got to be done within the railway to help the men who have to go back out onto the track. I think they are all having counselling - the shock was bad enough for us but for them to see what happened to their mates. I can't imagine what they went through."

She described the 53-year-old track maintenance worker as a good family man'.

Also killed were Colin Buckley, 49, and Darren Burgess, 30, both from Carnforth. Their families did not wish to speak about their loss.