THE son of an elderly couple who were killed when a train collided with their car at a Highlands level crossing has been awarded thousands of pounds in compensation.

Donald Mackay, 51, a data analyst from Inverness, claimed Network Rail had failed to implement safety measures following previous accidents at the Halkirk crossing in Caithness, and the condition of the warning lights made it unsafe.

His parents, Angus and Margaret, died along with his uncle, Donald Mackay, in September 2009.

Network Rail, which is now spending £4 million fitting open crossings with short barriers, said: "We have settled a legal action but it would not be appropriate to discuss the details."