The damning report into the Southall rail crash has been welcomed by victims' families, but they have condemned government plans imposing safety requirements.

The report, chaired by inquiry head Professor John Uff QC, makes 93 recommendations for improving rail safety in the wake of the collision in 1997.

But Maureen Kavanagh, whose son Peter, 29, died in the collision, said it should insist on the blanket introduction of new safety equipment.

"I would have liked for Professor Uff to have been able to say that automatic train protection (ATP) must be put in across the board.

"He has said it must be put in on Great Western, but that's not enough."

Mrs Kavanagh joined other relatives in condemning the recent decision by Deputy Prime Minster John Prescott retain Railtrack's partial supervision of rail safety.

Following last year's Paddington crash, in which 31 people died, Mr Prescott had insisted a new body would be established to act as an independent watchdog.

Joan Petch, whose husband Anthony died in the crash said Mr Prescott's decision had caused a sense of "outrage" among the families.

"We have waited two-and-a-half years to get some recommendations and we feel it is a complete waste of time if he is not going to have any regard for what Professor Uff has to say," she said.

Dr Michael Hillier, who survived the crash, was also angry.

He said the report "clearly spells out what changes need to take place", and that "we all feel very strongly that ATP would have prevented Southall".

He said ATP is very expensive, which was "all the more reason" why a private company should not control health and safety.

And fellow survivor Carol Bell issued a warning of another rail accident, unless prof Uff's suggestions were implemented.