The aunt of Paddington rail disaster victim Juliet Groves has spoken of her shock and disappointment following the announcement that nobody will be prosecuted over the crash.

A total of 31 people, including Miss Groves, died in the double train smash last October, but this week the Crown Prosecution Service announced it would not be bringing criminal charges.

Ursula Groves-Smith, of Staunton, said: "We're just a broken-hearted family really. It doesn't go away.

"All I can say is that this has come as a big shock. I'm disappointed about it, of course. Everyone involved will be.

"This is a very unsatisfactory and unhappy state of affairs and, on top of the all the grief and heartbreak, it's just devastating."

Miss Groves was on her way to a business meeting last October and was travelling on the Thames Train involved in the accident.

The 25-year-old, who secured a double honours degree in languages from Durham University, had been living and working in London for the accountants Ernst and Young.

She was born and brought up in Hartpury by her father Denman and mother Maureen, and was buried in the Parish Church of St Mary's, Hartpury, on October 22.

Her father was in London this week attending Lord Cullen's inquiry into the accident. Mrs Groves-Smith said she had not spoken to him since the Crown Prosecution's decision was announced on Tuesday (May 9).

Following the announcement that no prosecution would be brought for manslaughter, the Director of Public Prosecutions, David Calvert-Smith QC, lent his support for the creation of a new offence of corporate killing.