Survivors of the Selby rail disaster will be making a series of compensation claims running into millions of pounds, it has been revealed.

The first civil action against builder Gary Hart, who was found guilty on Thursday of causing ten deaths by dangerous driving, has already been launched at Leeds County Court.

More than a dozen crash survivors and bereaved relatives are expected to make claims for damages against Hart, who fell asleep at the wheel of his Land Rover before plunging down an embankment and into the path of an on-coming GNER express train.

Today, as families continued to reflect on the verdicts delivered by the jury after a 12-day trial, it emerged that the first civil case to be launched against Hart was done so by survivor Giancarlo Spadone.

Mr Spadone, 30, of York, suffered horrific injuries in the crash on February 28, including a broken spine, broken ribs, a smashed wrist and a collapsed lung. He was in hospital for two-and-a-half weeks.

Mr Spadone's civil case was launched on December 10. He is being represented by Kevin Hughes, of York solicitors Pattinson and Brewer, whose other clients' claims range from post-traumatic stress disorder to spinal and head injuries. Mr Hughes is also representing three bereaved families whose claims could run into "six or even seven figures."

Mr Hughes said: "I feel very sorry for Mr Hart. He will have to carry with him these events for the rest of his life.

"But through his negligence he has caused death and severe injury. It seems that his conviction is a just outcome. This conviction will assist the victims who are seeking compensation. Although the conviction is not conclusive it will be very persuasive to a judge sitting at a civil case."

Other cases will follow when medical evidence is available.