A VAN driver was last night facing a lengthy prison sentence after he admitted killing four members of the same family in a horrific crash.

Eight-year-old Macauley Gilbert was the sole survivor of the crash that claimed the lives of his younger brothers, his mother and her fiance.

His plight touched the hearts of people across the region, who donated thousands of pounds to a fund set up to provide for him.

Scott Easton, 23, crashed his blue Ford Transit into the family's red Citroen Saxo, causing it to plough into a tree on the A1 near Kirby Fleetham, between Leeming and Catterick, North Yorkshire, on March 3.

Easton yesterday pleaded guilty at Teesside Crown Court to causing the deaths of Paula Gilbert, 29, her fiance, Neil Jex, 37, and her sons, Tristan, three, and seven-month-old Kaiden.

Macauley survived, but suffered two broken legs and a broken wrist. The family, from Hebburn, South Tyneside, had been travelling to Blackburn, Lancashire, to discuss plans for a joint wedding with Mr Jex's brother, Paul, and his fiance.

At the time, Paul Jex said: They had just got engaged, and me and my girlfriend are engaged, so we decided to make it a double celebration.

"They were on their way to Blackburn so we could all sit down and decide on dates and details. We are all just completely devastated."

Yorkshire Air Ambulance crews, who airlifted Macauley to hospital, called him a miracle boy and set up the Miracle Fund, which raised more than £40,000.

Macauley's grandparents, Don and Mary Gilbert, now care for him at their home on the Lukes Lane estate, in Hebburn.

Last week, the youngster was welcomed back to Bede Burn Primary School, in Jarrow, South Tyneside.

Headteacher Noreen Reid said: "It is the first day of the academic year and we welcomed Macauley back in the same way as all the other children.

"He has had a difficult time, so now it is a priority for us to make him feel part of this school again."

Easton, wearing an open- necked white shirt and dark suit, only spoke during yesterday's brief hearing to plead guilty to the four counts of death by dangerous driving.

His barrister, Tim Roberts QC, said he accepted his client faced a lengthy custodial sentence, but asked for a pre-sentence report.

Judge David Bryant warned Easton that he faced a prison sentence.

He said: "You should understand that calling for a pre-sentence report should not be regarded by you as any sort of indication of sentence. As your counsel indicated earlier, a custodial sentence of some magnitude is inevitable in this case."

Easton, of Rushyford Avenue, Roseworth, Stockton, was granted conditional bail and ordered to return to court on November 2.

He was also given an interim driving ban and ordered to report to Stockton police station three times a week.

As they left court yesterday, Macauley's relatives declined to comment.

Sergeant Les Moorhouse, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "North Yorkshire Police are happy for an early plea by Mr Easton in relation to this matter.

"The family have expressed they will hopefully make a statement by themselves or through the police after the sentencing. I am not going to comment on the case itself.