More than 50 people remain in hospital with eight fighting for their lives days after a train crash in Bedford.

Over 100 people have received medical treatment since Friday, when a train smashed into the back of another train on the same lines just after 5pm.

Shaun Burton, 60, was killed instantly when the Luton Airport Express he was driving came in contact with the other train.

Tributes poured in for the 'dedicated' civil servant yesterday and his family is being supported by specialist officers from BTP. 

Police confirmed today that 53 people remain in hospital, with eight in a critical condition, though they said numbers are 'changing frequently'.

The East Midlands Railway (EMR) service is thought to have come to a halt due to a fault with a safety system which warns train drivers if there is a red signal ahead.

The driver of the stopped train from Nottingham had been reporting a fault to staff on the phone when the other slammed into it.

It is thought that the second train may have failed to trigger its automatic warning system, which is normally used if a train passes a yellow or red signal without braking.

Ordinarily this causes an alarm to sound in the driver's cab. If that warning is also ignored, the train protection system automatically applies the brakes. It is not known if this malfunction led to the crash.

Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy said: 'First and foremost, the thoughts of everyone at BTP are with the driver Shaun Burton's family and colleagues, and all those injured and affected by the collision on Friday.

'This is a priority investigation for BTP and our experienced senior investigating officer is working in parallel with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to establish the full circumstances of how this incident came to happen. We have recovered personal property from the two trains and will shortly be providing an update on how affected passengers can retrieve their belongings.

'Friday evening witnessed an awful incident that presented complexities and challenges for all those who responded. I have been humbled by the actions of passengers and staff who were on the trains, and by the professionalism of our officers, the wider emergency services and partners.

'The recovery operation is now underway, and work continues this week to remove the damaged trains and carriages and allow the railway to reopen.

'Lastly, our investigation team are looking to speak to everyone who was on the affected trains at the time of the collision.'