A MEMORIAL garden dedicated to victims of the Southall rail crash was opened yesterday on the sixth anniversary of the tragedy.

About 150 survivors and relatives of those who died gathered near the crash site where a plaque of remembrance was unveiled.

Many were visibly moved and some wept during a short service in the garden, led by the Bishop of Willesden, the Rt Rev Peter Broadbent.

A minute's silence was held at 1.15pm, to coincide with the time of the crash, and all trains in the vicinity were requested to slow down as a mark of respect.

Seven men were killed and 139 people injured when a Great Western express train collided with an empty freight train on September 19, 1997.

The victims included Ged Traynor, of East Boldon, South Tyneside, who was tourism development officer with Easington District Council in east Durham, and Antony Petch, who was born near Catterick, North Yorkshire.

Mr Petch's widow, Joan, who lives at Croft, near Darlington, and attended the day with her son, Graham, 26, said: "I think the memorial garden is wonderful. It is really nice that people can come here to sit and reflect, and it means that people are always remembering it.

"It has taken a long time but we've got there in the end. I would now like to see the Government putting a lot more investment into the railways and to monitor who they give contracts to more thoroughly.''

The garden, next to Southall station, is the first memorial dedicated to victims of the crash. During the service, the bishop said it would be a ''testimony'' to those who died and would be a permanent place of remembrance for the victims.

He also urged the Government to take action to help prevent similar accidents happening in future.