Holiday crash bus driver in court

Five pedestrians died in the crash on Easter Sunday 2004

A bus driver charged with killing five pedestrians in a crash outside the Fantasy Island resort in Ingoldmells, Lincs, has appeared in court.

Stephen Topasna, 51, from Louth, is accused of five counts of causing death by dangerous driving on Easter Sunday.

Joanne Warren from Leicester and her two sons Jacob aged five and four month old Leyton, along with Richard and Paula Rhodes, from Mansfield, all died.

Mr Topasna did not enter a plea and was granted bail to appear again in April.

He also faces one charge of driving without due care and attention.

The bus company, Lincolnshire Roadcar, appeared before magistrates in Skegness on Monday in connection with the crash on 11 April 2004.

Bosses asked for more time to study technical reports before entering a plea to an offence of using a vehicle with defective brakes.