A FARM worker taking a shortcut across a busy road caused the death of two men when their car collided with his tractor's trailer, a court heard.

Paul Humpherson and Peter Gates died instantly when their car crashed into the back of Andrew Breckon's tractor and trailer on September 25, last year, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Mr Breckon said he felt a ''slight bang'' at the time of the crash, but continued with his journey back to the farm in Thimbleby, North Yorkshire.

The accident happened when the car struck the rear of the trailer, which was overhanging into the fast lane of the northbound A19, as Mr Breckon waited to cross on to the southbound carriageway from the central reservation, the court heard.

The 41-year-old agricultural worker, of Romanby, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, is accused of killing driver Mr Humpherson and rear seat passenger Mr Gates by dangerous driving.

He denies both charges.

Tim Capstick, prosecuting, told the jury the trailer was protruding into the outside lane of the carriageway by at least 6ft.

It was getting dark when the crash happened at 8.50pm and, due to the angle of the trailer, Mr Humpherson would have had difficulty seeing it or its warning lights.

The two men died instantly as the near side of their Peugeot 206 went underneath the trailer and came out the other side before finally coming to rest more than a quarter of a mile along the road.

"The prosecution say that the tractor and trailer were positioned in such a way, protruding into the northbound carriageway, that the standard of driving fell well below that of a competent driver," said Mr Capstick.

Two other people in the car - front seat passenger Frank Newton and Brian Gilholme, who was asleep at the time - survived the crash.

"Mr Breckon was stationary and looking at traffic in the southbound carriageway when he was aware of a slight bang," said Mr Capstick.

"He saw some debris, but the vehicle carried on without stopping. Mr Breckon carried on to the farm. There, he noticed some damage and a bit of scratched paint, but thought no more of it."

Mr Newton finally brought the car to a halt 440 metres after the fatal impact.

Mr Breckon was taking a shortcut across the A19 as he headed back to Middle Farm when the crash happened.

Mr Gates, 52, was a former senior manager with Marks and Spencer. The father-of-three, from Ponteland, Northumberland, had taken early retirement to spend more time with his family.

All four men in the Peugeot were working for a car-leasing company and were travelling back to the North-East from Wiltshire.

The trial continues.