A lorry driver has appeared in court charged with causing the deaths of three members of a Bradford family in a motorway pile-up.

Bennett Hoyte, 47, appeared at Daventry Magistrates' Court in Northamptonshire, yesterday charged with three counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Islam Akram, 28, his wife Shamim Akhtar, 28, and his sister Tasleem Akhtar, 27, died instantly when their Seat Cordoba car was in a head-on accident with a truck driven by Hoyte after it crashed through the central reservation of the M1 at 4.30am on December 15, last year.

The accident happened near the Watford Gap service station in Northamptonshire as the family were travelling back to Bradford from a funeral of a 14-year-old boy who had died of leukaemia.

During the brief two-minute court hearing Hoyte, of Wedgewood Road, Luton, who was dressed in a black suit and trainers, spoke only to confirm his name, age and address. No plea was entered.

He was remanded on unconditional bail to attend Northampton Crown Court on Friday, May 26, for a preliminary hearing. A plea and directions hearing is due to take place at the same court on Friday, September 8.

Mr Akram and his wife had three children as did Mrs Akhtar.

Hundreds of mourners lined the streets to pay respects to the family, who lived in Great Horton, at their funeral prayers held at the Thangri Sharif mosque in Sunbridge Road.

Inquests into their deaths have been opened and adjourned at Northampton Coroner's Court pending the completion of criminal proceedings.

It was the second time the family has been devastated by a fatal car crash in little more than year.

In October, 2004, Amar Ali, 15, was killed by a car being driven by banned motorist Amir Khan in White Abbey Road, Bradford.

Amar's father Riasat Ali, who discovered his son's body in the road, is the cousin of Islam and Tasleem.

Khan was later jailed for six years at Bradford Crown Court for the offence.

e-mail: jennifer.sugden@bradford.newsquest.co.uk