A LORRY driver who killed six people when he ploughed into three other vehicles on the hard shoulder of the A1 was today warned he is facing a substantial prison sentence.

Brian France pleaded guilty to six counts of causing death by dangerous driving on the A1 near Dishforth, North Yorkshire, last year in a pile-up which shocked emergency service workers.

Three Good Samaritans who had stopped to help the victims of an earlier accident were among those killed when France, driving a Sainsbury's lorry, ploughed into three vehicles on the hard shoulder.

Judge Paul Hoffman today adjourned sentencing at Leeds Crown Court until June 4, but warned France that he would be jailed.

France, 54, of Birdwell, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was remanded on conditional bail but faces a maximum prison sentence of ten years.

Judge Hoffman told him: "You must not take any comfort from the fact that I am adjourning for a pre-sentence report. I must tell you that you must prepare for a substantial custodial sentence."

Plant fitter Stephen Maddison, 43, and his wife Wendy, 39, of Topcliffe, North Yorkshire, lost their lives when they stopped their Range Rover to help the occupants of a Vauxhall Carlton which overturned on the motorway on November 11.

They pulled over to help Karen McCutcheon, 39, her husband Colin, 44, of Kirkton of Logie-Euchan, near Aberdeen, and Mrs McCutcheon's sister Sandra Jennings, 37, of Huntington Road, York.

Removal van driver David Cooper, 33, of Handbridge, Chester, also stopped to help, but all six were killed when France's lorry careered into them.

At the time, the crash was described by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service divisional officer Steve Couchman as the worst scene of devastation he had witnessed in 32 years.

Firefighters spent more than five hours cutting the victims from the wreckage and many of the crew called to the scene later asked for counselling.

France suffered minor injuries in the crash and was treated at Harrogate District Hospital. He was arrested after being discharged.

Relatives of those killed attended court today but refused to comment after the hearing.

Updated: 17.10 Thursday, April 26