A VAN driver has admitted killing four members of the same family in a crash on the A1.

At Teesside Crown Court this morning Scott Easton, 22, admitted causing the deaths by dangerous driving of Paula Gilbert, 29, her fiance Neil Jex, 37, and her sons Tristan, three, and seven-month old Kaiden.

They died when their red Citroen Saxo was involved in a collision with a blue Ford Transit van driven by Easton on the A1 near Kirkby Fleetham on March 3.

Ms Gilbert's other son, eightyear-old Macauley, survived but suffered two broken legs and a broken wrist when the hatchback left the road and hit a row of trees.

The family, from Hebburn, South Tyneside, had been travelling on the A1 to Blackburn, Lancashire, to visit Mr Jex's relatives when the accident happened.

Easton, of Hebburn Road, Stockton, has been given bail, but was warned he faces a custodial sentence.