A Tyneside survivor of the Selby train disaster is celebrating the birth of a son.

Proud father Thomas Kaplanis from Newcastle was seriously injured in the horrific rail disaster.

Now the 33-year-old, who was a waiter on the GNER train, and his wife Marie have christened their new child Roy Anastasios.

Mr Kaplanis broke his back in two places in the crash at Great Heck, near Selby, North Yorkshire, in February last year.

The express train hit Gary Hart's Land Rover

Motorist Gary Hart was jailed for five years in January after being convicted of 10 counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

He fell asleep at the wheel of his Land Rover, which ran down an embankment into the path of the Newcastle to London high speed train.

Mr Kaplanis said: "The last 18 months have been terrible, but now Roy is something positive in our lives."

The arrival of baby Roy has sealed the happiness of the couple after they married in May last year.

But they thought they were in danger of losing Roy during a difficult labour.

Mrs Kaplanis, who works as a nurse, said: "The baby's umbilical cord was coiled around his neck. I was in labour for over 24 hours and had a very hard time."

Mr Kaplanis is now able to walk with the aid of a stick thanks to intensive physiotherapy.