A 78-year-old coach driver appeared in court today accused of causing the deaths of three men by dangerous driving on the M1 in Bedfordshire.

Travelmasters driver Alan Peters, from Valley Drive, Gravesend, made a brief appearance at Luton Crown Court.

He was driving a team of cheerleaders from Kent when the Queenborough-based coach crashed into the back of an Audi car near Flitwick at a quarter to seven in the morning of 14 February last year.

The men who died were 59-year-old Allan Evans from Islington in London, 23-year-old Nathan Reeves from Newport Pagnell and 20-year-old Tom Aldridge from Newport Pagnell.

Mr Peters is also accused of causing serious injury to Jake Dowling, a fourth man in the car.

Judge Richard Foster adjourned the case for a plea hearing on July 18.