Olive McFarland's sister, Dory Black, has paid tribute to her sibling who died after being hit by a train travelling at nearly 100mph. 

Ms Black, pictured on the right with her sister Pip Carpenter, said: "It has been awful. You can't think about it without crying."

She said they had been clearing fenland at Olive's home at Creeting St Mary shortly before she died.

"It was only a couple of days before she was killed that we were all together at Fen Farm," Ms Black said.

"She turned round and said, 'please dear God don't take me yet, I've got so much to do'.

"Then a few days later, she was killed."

The family of Olive McFarland have released a set of photos of the 82-year-old former actress, who died on the railway crossing at Gipsy Lane, Needham Market.

The first photo was taken in 1961 when she starred alongside Sean Connery in The Frightened City.

Image source, Family photo

Image source, Family photo

Image source, Family photo

Judge Martyn Levett told Ipswich Crown Court Ms McFarland's sister had called her "vibrant and energetic".

Olive McFarland's nephew says his family have been appalled by the way Network Rail handled the death of his aunt.

Speaking after Network Rail was fined £4m, John Black said: "We welcome the decision today. The significance of the fine clearly demonstrates the seriousness of negligence of Network Rail and its staff. 

"However, we still strongly feel that the only way tragedies like this will be prevented in the future is by making staff accountable for their decisions. 

"The lack of compassion shown by Network Rail has been abhorrent."

Image source, Family photo

Judge Martyn Levett said there was "undoubted sadness" for Ms McFarland's family at the abrupt way her life had ended.

The Office of Rail and Road found that Network Rail had failed to act on evidence that pedestrians had poor visibility of trains, and could not see them when approaching the Gipsy Lane crossing. 

Ian Prosser, HM Chief Inspector of Railways, said: "Today's sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court brings to a close our prosecution of Network Rail for failures which contributed to the death of Ms Olive McFarland.

"My thoughts are with Ms McFarland's family."

He said in 2011 the company's safety management fell below the standards required, putting those using the Gipsy Lane crossing in unnecessary danger.  

Over the past 10 years, the company had focused on improving health and safety on the country's railways, but although now ranked the safest in Europe, there was no room for complacency, he said.

Kevin Burch
BBC Look East

The train which hit 82-year-old Olive McFarland was travelling at nearly 100mph on a section of track that should have been restricted, Ipswich Crown Court heard. 

Network Rail's counsel Prashant Popat said the crossing had been judged high risk and a temporary speed limit of 80mph, then 55mph, was suggested. But the limit was not changed.

A fine of £4m was imposed with Network Rail granted 28 days to pay. It was also ordered to pay costs of £35,857.

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

A union has welcomed reassurances from the new owner of Bernard Matthews over job security and pensions following yesterday's buy-out by Boparan Private Office.

Unite regional officer Steve Harley said: "We had productive talks today and we were given guarantees that all current agreements will be honoured.

"We are reassured by the pledge that there will be no reduction in the workforce headcount."

On pensions, Unite said it understood that the Bernard Matthews final salary pension scheme was closed in 2004 and that its members presently have an alternative pension scheme which is unaffected by yesterday’s takeover.

Bosses at Network Rail decided against taking their bonus entitlements in the year after Olive McFarland was killed at a crossing in Needham Market, a director has said.

Route managing director Richard Schofield said the money was instead reallocated to a safety improvement fund for level crossings.

"Since 2010 we have closed over 1,000 crossings and we are spending £100m across the country improving level crossing safety," he said.

A Network Rail director says the company is "truly sorry" about the death of 82-year-old Olive McFarland, who died at a crossing in Needham Market.

Richard Schofield, route managing director, said: "Since this tragic accident we have improved safety by introducing a speed restriction on the line and reducing the crossing distance by straightening the crossing and re-positioning the gates. 

"However, this is not a permanent solution. 

"We believe that removing the level crossing is the safest option and we are continuing to work with the local community to get their support to close this crossing."

The family of a former actress who died after being hit by a train told Ipswich Crown Court her death was a "crime against humanity". 

The nephew of 82-year-old Olive McFarland read out a impact statement on behalf of his mother Dory Black, Olive's sister, during the hearing.

Image source, BBC TV World Theatre

John Black told the court Ms McFarland would have been making her daily trip to feed her chickens, as she was convalescing in a nearby care home after a fall.

Ms McFarland, pictured above with actor Patrick McGoohan in 1959, starred in film and TV dramas from the 1950s to the 1970s, including with Sean Connery in the 1961 film the Frightened City.

Network Rail admitted breaches to health and safety regulations in relation to the crossing and has been fined £4m.

Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live

The 2012 Rail Accident Investigation Branch report revealed that recommendations had been made in 2006 and 2008 for sirens to be placed at the level crossing in Needham Market to warn of approaching trains, but they were not implemented. 

It said: "There is an instruction 372m (1220ft) away from the crossing for train drivers to sound their whistle. 

"In May last year a study found that this did not provide a sufficient warning to vulnerable users of the crossing. 

"Temporary safety measures including a reduced speed limit were being discussed as a result, but were not put in place." 

Network Rail owns and manages the infrastructure at the crossing.

Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live

The report from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch said the "immediate cause of the accident was that the pedestrian (Olive McFarland) continued to cross when she became aware of the approaching train".

The driver of the train, which was travelling from London to Norwich, said he had seen a person on the crossing and sounded a warning horn. 

The report said Mrs McFarland moved from the adjacent line into the path of the train because she "either did not see the approaching train, she misjudged the speed of the train, or she believed that the train was approaching her on the line she was standing on".  

Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live

Back in July 2012, a report from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) concluded that Network Rail could have done more to prevent the death of an 82-year-old woman, who died when crossing the railway line at Needham Market. 

Image source, Google

Brenda McFarland, known as Olive, was killed in August 2011 when she was hit by a train at the Gipsy Lane crossing. 

The RAIB said Network Rail was told warnings of oncoming trains were "not sufficient" prior to the fatal collision. 

Network Rail said it was looking at ways to make the crossing safer.  

Vikki Irwin
BBC Radio Suffolk political reporter

The judge at Ipswich Crown Court has told Network Rail it would have faced a £6m fine over the death of Olive McFarland.

However, judge Martyn Levett said it was reduced to £4m as Network Rail had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Former actress Ms McFarland, 82, died after being hit by a train at a crossing in Needham Market in 2011. 

Network Rail had admitted health and safety breaches.

Vikki Irwin
BBC Radio Suffolk political reporter

Network Rail has been fined £4m over the death of Olive McFarland at a crossing in Needham Market in 2011.

Kevin Burch
BBC Look East

Back to Ipswich Crown Court, where Network Rail is being sentenced over the death of Olive McFarland at a crossing in Needham Market.

Network Rail's counsel, Prashant Popat, said that just before the fatal crash, the crossing had been inspected and judged high risk.

A temporary speed limit had been suggested - first of 80mph, then 55mph - to improve safety.

But nothing was done because a senior manager felt he needed to study the idea, once he returned from leave.

The judge said the decision should have been made there and then, adding that a limit had been imposed immediately after the death of Ms McFarland.

Acid attack victim Adele Bellis says the very bus stop at which she was attacked in Lowestoft will feature a poster for her book.

Image source, Adele Bellis

The 24-year-old said: "I'm still recovering. 

"I've still got a lot of operations coming up, but I just want to be a normal person and eventually get a career of helping people with emotional abuse.

"That's my passion now."

Acid attack victim Adele Bellis says she hopes her book will help young people understand what is normal in a relationship and what is unacceptable. 

The 24-year-old, who was badly burned in the attack orchestrated by her former boyfriend Anthony Riley, has written a book called Brave about her experience.

It focuses on what happened in the years before the acid attack and she hopes it could eventually be used as a resource in schools.

Miss Bellis was in an increasingly abusive relationship for six years, with her boyfriend stopping her from seeing her friends or wearing certain clothes.

"When you're in your first relationship you don't really know what's normal and what isn't, so young people need guidance as to what is and isn't acceptable," she said.

"It's not just about educating girls, it's about educating boys."

A Lowestoft woman who was badly burned in an attack orchestrated by her controlling boyfriend says reliving her experiences for a book was the "hardest thing" she had ever done. 

Adele Bellis lost an ear, was left partially bald, and suffered permanent scarring in the attack at a bus stop in Lowestoft in 2014. She is pictured below, before and after the incident.

Image source, Adele Bellis

Her former partner was jailed for a minimum of 13 years after a jury found him guilty of false imprisonment, conspiracy to apply a corrosive liquid and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

Miss Bellis has written a book about her experience and says she hopes it will raise awareness about unhealthy relationships.

"It's probably the hardest thing I've ever done, but it helped me and I think I needed it," she said.

Vikki Irwin
BBC Radio Suffolk political reporter

A quick update to say that we're still awaiting the sentencing of Network Rail, which admitted health and safety breaches after the death of Olive McFarland, 82, at a rail crossing in Needham Market.

Ipswich Crown Court heard from Prashant Popat, for the defence, this morning. We're back under way again, following lunch.

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

It looks like Boparan Private Office, which has bought Bernard Matthews, has also taken on the pension fund.

Image source, Geograph/Adrian Cable

In a statement to the BBC, a spokesman for Boparan, which is headed by the food tycoon Ranjit Singh Boparan, said: "The current pension arrangements with Bernard Matthews continue under the new ownership of the Boparan Private Office."

There was concern the company pension might have been passed onto a national scheme. 

Unions have been in a meeting with managers at the Bernard Matthews HQ in Great Witchingham, to find out more about the deal and what it will mean for the 2,000 staff.