CAMPAIGNERS are battling to save the career of an award-winning stationmaster who says he was sacked for trying to prevent an accident.

Ian Faletto claims he was dismissed by his bosses at South West Trains after clearing a shopping trolley that could have derailed a train.

He was subsequently suspended and later sacked for what South West Trains describes as a serious breach of safety rules.

Mr Faletto spoke of his anger at being fired after a 27-year career in which he won several awards for customer service, including a Lifetime Achievement gong.

He said: “I’ve been a real ambassador all these years and yet this is what they think of me. I’ve been treated terribly. I couldn’t just leave an object on the line.

“After asking for the power to be switched off I removed the trolley and threw it over a fence into a skip. The trolley could have done serious damage to the train and even derailed it.”

Mr Faletto, 49, of Durley Crescent, Totton, said his actions came to light after managers visited the station to investigate an unrelated incident in which a passenger dived under a stationary train to retrieve his mobile phone. They decided to examine footage from CCTV cameras – and saw Mr Faletto on the line.

The Rev Alex Russell, of St Mark’s Church, Pennington, has collected 250 signatures calling for Mr Faletto to be reinstated.

She said: “Employees aren’t allowed on the track unless they’re a specific grade but an exception can be made if it’s a question of averting danger – and that’s exactly what he did.”

A South West Trains spokesman said: “We can confirm an employee has been dismissed for a serious breach of safety. This action was taken following a full and thorough internal investigation and the decision was also upheld at an appeal hearing.

“Our absolute priority is to run a safe railway for our passengers and staff.

“All our employees are aware of the importance of complying with the strict rules governing railway safety, which we have a duty to enforce, and the serious consequences of disregarding them.”

Mr Faletto used to run Sway railway station, which won Best Small Station in the South West Trains Station Pride Awards 2003.

Ten weeks after he transferred to Lymington it was named the most improved station in the region.