A RAIL worker was suspended from his job for making "insensitive and inappropriate" remarks about the Potters Bar train crash on the Friends Reunited website, it was revealed yesterday.

Ross Stevenson, who works for engineering firm Jarvis, was forced to apologise by his bosses after they received a string of complaints about the message he left on the popular site.

In his message on the section for Oaklands School, in York, Mr Stevenson said he had started working for Jarvis in the city - but he added: "PS. It was not me who took the bolts off at Potters Bar."

Seven people died and dozens were injured when a train derailed at a set of faulty points near Potters Bar station in May.

Addressing one complaint about the entry, Mick McKeever, York Jarvis Rail managing director, said: "We share your view that the comments made, apparently in jest to old school friends, were nevertheless insensitive and inappropriate given the recent tragic events. We apologise for any distress caused."

Mr Stevenson, of Hilary Garth, York, has since apologised on the website.

He wrote: "I am very sorry for any heartache or upset I may have caused by comments I may have posted on my message board. Please accept my deepest apologies."

Mr Stevenson has since been reinstated at work.