A LORRY driver who killed six people when he crashed into three vehicles on the hard shoulder of a motorway had his prison sentence and driving ban cut on appeal yesterday.

Three judges, sitting at London's Court of Appeal, reduced Brian France's six-year jail term to five years, and his driving ban from eight to six years.

France, 55, of Birdwell, Barnsley, was jailed at York Crown Court last year after admitting six counts of causing death by dangerous driving on the A1(M), three-and-a-half miles south of Dishforth, North Yorkshire, on November 11, 2000.

The court heard that the most likely explanation for the crash was that France had either dozed off at the wheel of his Sainsbury's articulated lorry, or had leaned over to read a piece of paper.

Plant-fitter Stephen Maddison, 42, and his wife Wendy, 39, of Topcliffe, near Thirsk, lost their lives when they stopped their Range Rover to help the occupants of a Vauxhall Carlton which had overturned.

They pulled over to help Karen McCutcheon, 39, her husband Colin, 44, of Kirkton of Logie, near Aberdeen, and Mrs McCutcheon's sister, Sandra Jennings, of Huntington Road, York. They had been on their way home after attending a funeral.

Removal van driver David Cooper, 33, of Chester, also stopped to help, but all six were killed when France's lorry careered into them.

Lord Justice Potter said France, who suffered minor injuries, crashed into the yellow removal van which was displaying its hazard lights and was visible from half a mile away. A man was also waving to warn of the danger.

Lord Justice Potter, sitting with Mr Justice Rafferty and Mr Justice Hedley, said: "The distress of those families can't be compensated by the sentence passed on France nor should it be a yardstick for the sentence's length. We consider that a somewhat lesser sentence would have been appropriate. The realisation of the magnitude of his offence would be a lasting punishment to him."

France had risen at 3.15am that day and started work at 7.45am. The collision happened at about 3pm, after he had driven 162 miles to the Teesside area from Rotherham.

James Goss, for France, said the six-year sentence was excessive as he had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and was extremely remorseful.