A PASSENGER on a bus telephoned his girlfriend to tell her he was on his way to meet her minutes before a crash that claimed his life.

Egyptian-born Mohammed Eltahtawy called Carol Knowles as he took a bus into York from the Ikon and Diva nightclub, on the outskirts of the city.

At 1.43am last Friday, he left a message on her voicemail, that said: "Hello love, it's me. I'm coming home now. Take care of yourself. Bye now."

Seven minutes later, the bus struck the parapet of a railway bridge in Bootham and Mr Eltahtawy, a father-of-three, died a short time later from his injuries.

Miss Knowles, 46, of Haxby, York, had only recently started a relationship with Mr Eltahtawy, 49, but said the pair had already discussed a future together in London.

She was waiting for him at Hilton Lodge, a guesthouse in Wigginton Road, York, where he was living, when he called her mobile phone.

Miss Knowles said she was devastated by his death.

"You couldn't have met a nicer man," she said. "He was so happy and so full of fun."

* James Christopher Genton, 21, of Rowntree Avenue, Clifton, York, will appear at York Crown Court on Monday in connection with the crash.