A VAN driver was found guilty last week of causing the deaths of a father and son by dangerous driving.

Martin Robinson, 45, and his 23-year-old son David, 23, both from Gainford, died when their Ford Capri was involved in a head on collision on a country road near Piercebridge in November, a jury at Teesside Crown Court was told.

Geoffrey Donnison, 37, of Maudville, Consett, denied two counts of causing their deaths by dangerous driving.

Prosecuting Stephen Ashurst told the court how Donnison had been driving a Mercedes Sprinter van on the B6275 road near Piercebridge, in the twilight hours of November 26, last year.

At a point on the old Roman Road, where there is central cross hatching and where ahead lay an incline and a shallow 'S' bend, he had pulled out to overtake a Ford Transit van, said Mr Ashurst.

Being on the brow of the hill and because of the bend in the road, Donnison had been unable to see an oncoming vehicle and while alongside the transit van, had collided with the Robinson's Ford Capri.

As a result of the collision, Mr Robinson senior died in the accident and his son was taken to Middlesbrough General Hospital, where he died four days later.

In his defence, the court was told that in the fading light Donnison had wrongly believed the road ahead was clear.

With no prior signs indicating the hazards of the 'S' bend and incline, he had been confident he could overtake safely.

The jury, which had earlier in the hearing been taken by coach to the scene of the collision on the road which links the A67 and A68, found Donnison guilty of both charges.

Asking for an adjournment for pre-sentence reports, defence counsel Stephen Duffield told the Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox QC: "Mr Donnison is under no illusions of the possible sentence.''

Judge Fox granted the adjournment for approximately three weeks.

After the hearing members of the Robinson family who had sat in the public gallery throughout the trial said they were too upset to comment.