A 22-YEAR-OLD man appeared in court today charged in connection with a car crash which killed a mother, her fiancee and two of their children.

Scott Easton appeared at Northallerton Magistrates Court charged with four counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

The charges relate to a collision on the A1 near the village of Kirkby Feltham in North Yorkshire on March 3.

Paula Gilbert, 29, Neil Jex, 37, and two of their sons - Tristan, aged three, and seven-month-old Kaiden - all died at the scene of the accident.

A third son, eight-year-old Macauley, miraculously survived after he was flown to the James Cook Memorial Hospital on Teesside by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Easton, of Hebburn Road, Stockton, spoke only to confirm his name and address during a brief hearing.

He was bailed and will next appear at Teesside Crown Court on June 8.

Full story and pictures in tomorrow's Northern Echo