A 61-YEAR-OLD woman who was forced to cancel Christmas when she broke her leg on a train station platform has won her fight for compensation.

Margot Keats was on her way to do some Christmas shopping when she slipped over on the wet platform at Nottingham station.

She was rushed to hospital where she underwent an operation to insert a metal plate into her broken leg.

Following the incident in November 2006, Mrs Keats ended up spending Christmas Day on crutches and even had to delay giving presents to her loved ones until months later.

Mrs Keats, of Allestree, contacted the GMB union, which she was a member of, and it instructed its lawyers, Thompsons Solicitors, to pursue a claim for compensation.

Mrs Keats said she wanted the station operators, Central Trains, to accept responsibility for the accident and address the state of the station's platforms to make them less slippery in wet weather.

Central Trains, which was a franchise of National Express before rail services in the region were taken over to East Midlands Trains last year, admitted liability and settled the claim for an undisclosed sum.

She said: "The accident has really affected my confidence in wet and cold conditions and I am now much more wary of where I walk.

"The accident meant I had to cancel Christmas because I couldn't get out to do any shopping. This year, however, I have been able to get my Christmas shopping completed and everyone should receive their gifts on time.

"I decided to contact the GMB after I wrote to the company to complain about the accident. The reply I received was, in my view, totally unreasonable, and I felt that something needed to be done to make the platforms safer.

"I had heard about the GMB's legal services during a presentation at a branch meeting from a Thompsons representative and I hoped that they would be able to resolve this for me.

"I have been delighted with the service I have received."

Phillip McGough, from Thompsons Solicitors' Nottingham office, said: "Mrs Keats' Christmas was ruined by her accident.

"What was supposed to be an enjoyable day spent Christmas shopping ended up in Accident and Emergency. It is only right that Mrs Keats is compensated."

Andy Worth, from the GMB union, said: "We are pleased we have been able to support our member in this claim. Union legal services are available to all our members free for accidents at or away from work."