A judge has warned a lorry driver that he faces jail after he admitted killing six people in a motorway pile-up in North Yorkshire.

At Leeds Crown Court today, Brian France, 54, admitted six charges of causing death by dangerous driving on the A1(M) near Dishforth, Ripon, on November 11 last year.

France, of Worsborough Road, Birdwell, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to causing the deaths of Karen McCutcheon, 39, a student, and her aircraft engineer husband Colin, 44, from Kirkton of Logie, Buchan-by-Ellon, Aberdeen, and Mrs McCutcheon's sister Sandra Jennings, 37, a social worker of Huntington Road, York, who were in a Vauxhall Carlton which had overturned.

He also pleaded guilty to causing the deaths of three people who had stopped to help.

They were Stephen Maddison, 43, a plant fitter and his wife Wendy, 39, a business manager of Station Road, Topcliffe, Thirsk, and David Cooper, a lorry driver from Handbridge, Chester.

The case was adjourned for sentence to York Crown Court on June 4. France was granted bail on condition that he reside at an address which was not disclosed in court. A condition that he must not drive was also imposed.

Judge Paul Hoffman told France: "You must not take any comfort from the fact that I am adjourning for a pre-sentence report and you must prepare for a substantial custodial sentence."

The families of those who died in the crash were in court to hear the pleas.

North Yorkshire Police have said national guidelines prevent them from commenting on the case until sentence has been passed.

The tragedy happened when the Vauxhall hit the central reservation and overturned, coming to rest on the hard shoulder.

A removal van driven by Mr Cooper stopped behind the car and he got out to help. Meanwhile, a Range Rover carrying the Maddisons stopped in front of the overturned car and the couple also got out to give assistance.

It was then that the lorry driven by Mr France ploughed into the back of the removal van, knocking it into the car.

Updated: 14:46 Thursday, April 26, 2001