THE directors of Railtrack should be prosecuted in the wake of the Hatfield rail disaster, says MP David Chaytor.

He says they should not be allowed to get away with bringing "death and mayhem" to the country's rail network.

The Bury North MP says that Railtrack knew about the potentially dangerous state of the track at Hatfield before the disaster happened. Allowing high speed trains to continue to operate over it means that they should be liable to prosecution for corporate manslaughter, he says.

"If Railtrack's board knew that the state of the track made it potentially unsafe, then it is outrageous that they decided to continue with their normal service," said Mr Chaytor.

"It was a criminally irresponsible decision which has resulted in loss of life, injury and trauma."

The MP also complained that the nation's rail network has since ground to a halt while safety inspections are carried out.

He adds: "What many of us want to know is why it took another rail disaster to force Railtrack to carry out these inspections and get on with replacing track."

Mr Chaytor and 22 other MPs are now asking the Home Secretary to consider pressing charges.