BRITISH Transport Police have blasted a railway worker at Preston station who told shocked passengers that a suspicious package was nothing to do with him.

The worker, according to passengers, ignored the abandoned carrier bag - which they feared was a bomb - and left a pensioner to deal with it.

Student Kate Abram discovered a suspicious-looking package under a seat as she boarded an InterCity train at rush hour in Preston station.

Terrified that it contained explosives following the recent rise in terrorist attacks, she alerted a uniformed worker on the train. But he refused to help and stalked off.

Kate, 23, told the Citizen: "He asked 'What do you want me to do?'. I asked what if it is a bomb, but he replied 'I wouldn't worry if I were you. If it's not under your seat what are you bothering about'

"We were completely stunned. Now I don't feel safe travelling by rail any more.

"The whole episode has left me shaken up. I have made an official complaint and I hope the reply will be able to explain how it happened."

An elderly man who, with his wife, had boarded the 5.20pm train from Preston to London on Friday, July 19, eventually took a look inside the bag because he feared the train would set off with it still on board. This time it was a harmless bag of rubbish and he threw it away.

Inspector Richard Blenkharn of the British Transport Police at Preston said: "I will be speaking to the bosses of InterCity - this is not acceptable. I'm surprised as the train crews are pretty switched on."

But an InterCity spokesman said: "The senior conductor hasn't any recollection of any approach from a member of the public regarding luggage and no left luggage was handed in when the train terminated at Euston.

"I'm not saying she is lying but he has no recollection of it. We have to believe our member of staff."

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