A driver has admitted knocking down and killing a mum and her elderly father and then failing to take a drugs test.

Nitesh Bissendary today pleaded guilty to causing the deaths of Yoram Hirshfeld and Noga Sella by careless driving in Ramsgate.

But the 30-year-old has denied causing their deaths by dangerous driving.

Canterbury Crown Court was told Mr Hirshfeld, 78, and Mrs Sella, 40, suffered fatal injuries when they were struck by Bissendary’s black Alfa Romeo as they walked back to their hotel at about 9.35pm on August 10 this year.

A young girl was seriously injured, and a man in his 40s and a boy of primary school age suffered minor injuries during the crash in Leopold Street.

Bissendary, of Highlands Glade, Manston, was arrested shortly after the incident and later charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He denies all of these charges.

He has also been charged with intent to supply a Class A drug, which he also denies.

But Bissendary, dressed in a white shirt in court, admitted two counts of causing death by careless driving and failing to provide a specimen.

However, the prosecution will pursue convictions on the more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving at a trial later this month.

At the same hearing today, Bissendary, and his parents Barjunsing and Sadhana Bissendary, aged 58 and 55 respectively, denied perverting the course of justice.

Kent Police said the charges relate to the alleged concealing of potential evidence.

Mrs Sella was a consultant physicist and systems engineer with Cambridge Design Partnership and lived in the university city with her family.

Her father - a former maths professor at Tel Aviv University - was understood to be visiting her from Israel when tragedy struck.

Bissendary’s parents, also of Highlands Glade, have been bailed to appear for trial in the new year.

Nitesh was remanded in custody and will go on trial at the same court on November 28.