HEALTH and safety watchdogs have cleared Trago Mills of any negligence after five people were injured when the miniature steam train derailed and crashed last month.

The Health and Safety Executive has concluded its investigation into the incident and is taking 'no further action'.

Carriages packed with children and adults were wrecked as the train came off the tracks at the Liverton complex at about 4pm on August 22.

Three people were taken to hospital and several passengers were left feeling shaken, but all five casualties escaped with minor injuries.

A spokesman for the HSE said: "The HSE concluded its investigation and will be taking no further action regarding this incident.

"The derailment was caused by a combination of factors including a slight misalignment of track, which had not been picked up by regular inspections.

"HSE is satisfied that the company complied with the health and safety standards expected of such a ride."

Trago Mills company director Andrew Nunn said: "We are obviously delighted that nothing other than minor injuries were sustained.

"It was a very dark day for us. We have run the railway there for more than 20 years without major incident.

"We are delighted that the railway has been given a clean bill of health and that we are able to operate it once more."