The record-breaking £10m fine given to Balfour Beatty following the Hatfield rail disaster, in which four people died and more than 100 were injured, has been reduced to £7.3m by the Court of Appeal.

The crash occurred when a broken rail led to the derailment of a high-speed London to Leeds train, which was travelling at 117mph at the time of the accident. The company, which was responsible for track maintenance, admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act.