A TAXI driver whose passengers claimed he had been driving at 110 mph went on trial yesterday accused of causing the death of a 46-year-old man by dangerous driving.

Two of Neil Thompson's passengers at the time of the crash in March last year told a jury at Teesside Crown Court they had seen the speedometer of the Seat Toldeo reach 110 mph and they had told him to slow down. But they said minutes later the taxi crashed into a VW Beetle, driven by Norman Ward. Mr Ward died six weeks later in hospital.

Mr Thompson, 22, of Belle View, Quarrington Hill, near Durham, appeared before the court charged with causing Mr Ward's death by dangerous driving. He has denied the charge.

Jamie Hill, prosecuting, said calculations, based on skid marks at the scene of the accident at the Fishburn junction on the A177, indicated that Mr Thompson's speed was approximately 89 mph on a stretch of road that had a 60 mph speed limit.

Mr Ward had been turning out of the C26 road on to the A177.

Mr Hill said: "Whatever Mr Ward was doing with his vehicle, this defendant was going far too fast to stop within any reasonable space of time."

Mr Hill told the jury that the defence would refer them to the fact that Mr Ward had had a drink before driving, although when his blood was tested it was below the legal limit.

When Mr Thompson was interviewed by police he said he had been driving at 60 mph. He said Mr Ward pulled out in front of him and denied driving at 110 mph.

The case continues