A LORRY driver who crashed into a horse-drawn caravan, killing a father and son, has been jailed for four years.

Stuart Nicholson, 44, and his six-year-old son Connor were travelling home to Wheatley Hill, County Durham, from Appleby Horse Fair, in Cumbria, when the Mercedes HGV, driven by Gerald Grange, went into the back of their caravan.

They were killed instantly by the empty tanker and Grange admitted causing their deaths by dangerous driving.

Carlisle Crown Court was told that Grange's mobile phone records showed he had called 999 to report the accident at 17.57 and 59 seconds on June 10 last year.

His phone and sim card were further scrutinised to reveal that he had made calls to two work-related numbers 50 and 36 seconds earlier, but that the calls had not connected.

It could not be proven if the calls were made before or after the crash, which took place on the A66 at Appleby, Cumbria.

Grange, 51, from Stockton, Teesside, told police that he had no idea how the crash had happened.

Judge John Milford QC told Grange: "This is a case of human tragedy, not only for the family of the victims, but also for you and your family."

Mr Nicholson had two daughters Sarah, 18, and Nicola 16, and owned riding stables where he had his own horses.

He and Connor had been at the fair and were travelling in a traditional-style caravan with curved roof.

After the accident, the fair's organisers produced road signs to warn drivers of the dangers of horse-drawn vehicles on the road.

After the verdict, Stuart's brother, Michael Nicholson, said: "We are obviously glad that it is over now. He has admitted that he is responsible and we can try and move on, but it has taken him long enough. It's more than a year since the crash happened.

"We accept what the judge said, that the sentence cannot ever be enough to make up for what we have lost, but we are happy enough with a four- year sentence, although the longer the better."