STAFF at an insurance company employing more than 650 in Hampshire have earned plaudits for the professional way they handled claims arising from the Selby rail crash.

Ten rail passengers died when Gary Hart's Land Rover veered of the M62 in north Yorkshire, careered down a grass embankment next to a railway bridge and landed on the east coast line, causing a GNER train to derail.

The south-bound express train, on the Newcastle to London Kings Cross route, then collided with a north-bound coal train.

Hart's insurer, Fortis, paid out at least £22.3m following the tragedy in February 2001 - making it the world's largest motor claim.

Hart, who denied falling asleep was jailed for five years after being found guilty of ten counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Employees of Fortis Insurance, which has offices at Eastleigh, just off the M27, and in Gloucester, received the industry's respect for the way in which they dealt with the often harrowing claims by survivors and families of the dead and injured.

A 20-strong panel of industry, trade union, political and media specialists highlighted Fortis Insurance for its work in the aftermath.

Their praise resulted in the company picking up the major loss award at the British Insurance Awards.

Chief executive Barry Smith said: "We are delighted to have won this award, which is a clear indication that our employees continue to deliver an excellent service, even in times when the utmost professional and sensitive approach is required.

"An incident of this nature requires much care and sympathy to ensure that each case is dealt with quickly and effectively and in order not to cause any further unnecessary distress."

Last year Fortis lost a High Court bid to recover some of the Selby costs from the Secretary of State for Transport, unsuccessfully arguing that an inadequate safety fence was partly to blame.